What's happening
This bill creates an animal abuser registry in New York, requiring convicted felons to register and notify communities and authorities.
Why it matters
Creates a comprehensive tracking system for animal abusers. By requiring registration and annual renewal for 15 years, the bill enables law enforcement and the public to monitor individuals with serious animal abuse convictions, potentially deterring repeat offenses and increasing accountability.
Mandates local and state-level coordination. County sheriffs must collect detailed identifying information and forward it to a statewide database, ensuring both local and central authorities have up-to-date records and facilitating inter-county cooperation.
Proactively informs communities and relevant organizations. The law obligates sheriffs to notify nearby residences, schools, humane societies, animal shelters, and businesses within a half-mile of a registrant’s address, empowering the community to take precautions and enhancing transparency.
Imposes legal consequences for noncompliance. Failing to register or providing false information is classified as a felony, adding a strong legal deterrent and emphasizing the seriousness of animal abuse crimes.
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Who cares
County sheriffs
They would collect registration information, photographs and fingerprints, maintain local registries, forward information to the state and notify residences, schools and businesses within a half mile of a registrant’s location.
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
It would maintain a statewide registry accessible online, by telephone, in writing and in person, excluding registrants’ Social Security numbers from public disclosure.
People over 18 convicted of covered felony animal offenses
They would face registration and annual renewal requirements for fifteen years, with intentional or knowing noncompliance or false information constituting a class E felony.
Humane societies and animal shelters
Those within a half mile of a registrant’s residence or location would receive registration information, except the Social Security number, from the county sheriff within ten days of initial registration.
Headline styles
Create Animal Abuser Registry
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
- 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.
Create Animal Abuser Registry
In Senate Committee · Domestic Animal Welfare · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
931
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to establishing an animal abuser registry
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 353-g to read as follows:
§ 353-g. Animal abuser registry. 1. For purposes of this section, the term "animal abuser" means a person over eighteen years of age who has been convicted of a felony violation of any provision of this article or of the comparable statutes of another state.
2. Any animal abuser physically within the boundaries of this state for more than ten consecutive days shall register with the county sheriff for the county in which the animal abuser is located before the end of the eleventh day in the state.
3. Any previously registered animal abuser shall reregister with the county sheriff for the county in which the animal abuser is located no later than ten days after moving to a new location within the state.
4. When an animal abuser registers with the county sheriff, the animal abuser shall provide the following registration information:
(a) the legal name and any other names or aliases that the animal abuser is using or has used;
(b) the date of birth of the animal abuser;
(c) the social security number of the animal abuser;
(d) the current address or location of the animal abuser;
(e) the place of employment of the animal abuser;
(f) the animal protection offense for which the animal abuser was convicted; and
(g) the date and place of the animal protection offense conviction of the animal abuser.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05013-01-9
A. 931 2
5. When an animal abuser registers with a county sheriff, the sheriff shall obtain:
(a) a photograph of the animal abuser and a complete set of the animal abuser's fingerprints; and
(b) a description of any tattoos, scars or other distinguishing features on the animal abuser's body that would assist in identifying the animal abuser.
6. Following an animal abuser's initial registration pursuant to the provisions of this section, an animal abuser shall annually renew the animal abuser's registration with the county sheriff prior to December thirty-first of each subsequent calendar year for a period of fifteen years.
7. An animal abuser who intentionally or knowingly fails to comply with the registration requirements, or provides false information when complying with the registration requirements set forth in this section, is guilty of a class E felony.
8. Each county sheriff shall maintain a local registry of animal abusers in the sheriff's jurisdiction required to register pursuant to this section.
9. The county sheriff shall forward all registration information obtained from animal abusers to the New York state division of criminal justice services.
10. Within ten days of receiving initial registration information from an animal abuser, the county sheriff shall contact every residence, school, humane society, animal shelter and any other business within a half mile radius of the animal abuser's residence or location and provide them with the animal abuser's registration information, with the exception of the animal abuser's social security number.
11. The New York state division of criminal justice services shall maintain a central registry of animal abusers required to register pursuant to the provisions of this section. The central registry of animal abusers shall be made available to the public through internet access, telephone access, written access and in-person access. All of the information contained in an animal abuser's registration, with the exception of the animal abuser's social security number, shall be made available. Records of each animal abuser's registration shall be maintained for the duration of the fifteen year period in which the animal abuser is required to be registered.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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