What's happening
This bill prohibits the hunting, sale, or transfer of animals that are or were part of zoos, petting zoos, carnivals, or circuses in New York.
Why it matters
Closes a loophole in animal welfare by stopping animals from zoos, petting zoos, circuses, or carnivals from being hunted or used in “canned hunts,” where animals are often killed for sport in enclosed areas. This aims to prevent exploitation of animals after their exhibition careers are over.
Targets unethical disposal and sale practices by making it illegal for facilities or individuals to sell, donate, or transfer these animals if they might be hunted. This reduces avenues for unwanted animals to end up in harmful situations.
Strengthens accountability across multiple industries (zoos, circuses, petting zoos, exotic animal ranches),. making it harder to evade responsibility by transferring animals between different types of facilities.
Empowers local governments to enact even stronger protections,. allowing municipalities to go further if they choose, rather than setting a ceiling on animal welfare standards.
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Who cares
Zoos, petting zoos, carnivals, circuses and federally licensed animal exhibitors
The bill would prohibit them from selling, donating or otherwise transferring animals where those animals may be intentionally taken.
Operators of hunting facilities
They could not purchase, accept or receive animals they know or have reason to know are current or former zoo, petting zoo, carnival or circus animals.
Hunters
Taking an animal they know or have reason to know is currently or formerly part of one of these attractions would carry a fine of $500 to $2,000.
Municipal governments
The bill would preserve their authority to adopt more restrictive rules governing animals in zoos, petting zoos, carnivals or circuses.
Headline styles
Ban Taking Zoo Animals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
6 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
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.
Ban Taking Zoo Animals
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
912
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, O'DONNELL, COLTON, L. ROSENTHAL, GOTT- FRIED, DINOWITZ, OTIS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the taking of zoo, petting zoo, carnival or circus animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 11-1908 to read as follows: § 11-1908. Prohibits the taking of zoo, petting zoo, carnival or circus
animals.
1. No person shall take, as defined in subdivision thirteen of section 11-0103 of this article, an animal that such person knows or has reason to know is presently or was formerly a part of a zoo, petting zoo, carnival, or circus.
2. No zoo, petting zoo, carnival, or circus or any person licensed or required to be licensed as an exhibitor under the Animal Welfare Act, 7 USC section 2131 et seq., shall sell, offer for sale, distribute, barter or donate any animal wherein such animal may be intentionally taken.
3. No person who owns, operates, or manages a facility including, but not limited to a facility that harbors non-native big game mammals, or any other facility that permits the taking of animals shall purchase, accept or receive any animal such person knows or has reason to know is presently or was formerly a part of a zoo, petting zoo, carnival, or circus.
4. Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars.
5. Nothing in this section shall preempt a municipal corporation from enacting more restrictive laws, ordinances or regulations governing animals in zoos, petting zoos, carnivals, or circuses.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05044-01-9
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.