What's happening
This bill allows emergency medical personnel and firefighters to remove animals from unattended vehicles in dangerous conditions.
Why it matters
Expands authority to act in emergencies. By allowing emergency medical personnel and firefighters (both paid and volunteer) to remove animals from vehicles, the bill increases the number of first responders who can intervene quickly, potentially saving animals’ lives when police or humane officers aren’t immediately available.
Provides legal protection for rescuers. The amendment shields emergency responders and firefighters from criminal or civil liability when they act reasonably and in good faith, encouraging them to help animals in distress without fear of legal repercussions.
Requires clear notification to vehicle owners. The bill mandates that rescuers leave a written notice with their contact information and details about where the animal has been taken, promoting transparency and ensuring owners can quickly locate and reclaim their pets.
Strengthens animal welfare response. By incorporating more types of first responders into the rescue process, the legislation ensures faster intervention in potentially deadly situations, reflecting a broader commitment to preventing cruelty and suffering for companion animals.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Pets in Hot Cars
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
12 Co-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.137
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- 3rd reading cal.1046
- Substituted for S5054
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.158
- Rules report cal.158
- Reported
Show 3 earlier actions
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Pets in Hot Cars
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 5054 A. 7053
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
April 4, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sens. LAVALLE, MARTINEZ, BOYLE, BROOKS, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Domestic Animal Welfare
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, CAHILL, CRESPO, ENGLE- BRIGHT, McDONOUGH, MONTESANO, MORINELLO, RAIA, L. ROSENTHAL, D'URSO, LUPARDO, FERNANDEZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BLAKE, COOK, GALEF, JAFFEE, B. MILLER, MOSLEY, SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the confinement of companion animals in unattended motor vehicles under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 353-d of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 586 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 353-d. Confinement of companion animals in vehicles: extreme temperatures. 1. A person shall not confine a companion animal in a motor vehicle in extreme heat or cold without proper ventilation or other protection from such extreme temperatures where such confinement places the companion animal in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury due to exposure to such extreme heat or cold.
2. Where the operator of such a vehicle cannot be promptly located, a police officer, peace officer, [or] peace officer acting as an agent of a duly incorporated humane society, emergency medical services personnel, paid firefighter, or volunteer firefighter who in the performance of such volunteer firefighter's duties are directed to respond to a call for assistance for such animal may take necessary steps to remove the animal or animals from the vehicle.
3. Police officers, peace officers [or], peace officers acting as agents of a duly incorporated humane society, emergency medical services
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10418-02-9
S. 5054 2 A. 7053
personnel, paid firefighters, or volunteer firefighters who in the performance of such volunteer firefighters' duties or emergency medical services personnel are directed to respond to a call for assistance for such animal removing an animal or animals from a vehicle pursuant to this section shall place a written notice on or in the vehicle, bearing the name of the officer or agent, and the department or agency and address and other contact information, if available, where the animal or animals will be taken.
4. An animal or animals removed from a vehicle pursuant to this section shall, after receipt of any necessary emergency veterinary treatment, be delivered to the duly incorporated humane society or society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or designated agent thereof, in the jurisdiction where the animal or animals were seized.
5. Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of subdivision one of this section shall be guilty of a violation, punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for a first offense, and a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars for a second and subsequent offenses.
6. Officers, emergency medical services personnel and firefighters shall not be held criminally or civilly liable for actions taken reasonably and in good faith in carrying out the provisions of this section.
7. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to affect any other protections afforded to companion animals under any other provisions of this article.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.