What's happening
This bill expands the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals to include all animals, not just companion animals.
Why it matters
Broader protection for animals. By expanding the law from only "companion animals" (like dogs and cats) to include *all animals*, this bill means that intentional acts of extreme cruelty against any animal (including livestock, wildlife, and others) could lead to criminal charges.
Wider accountability. Individuals or businesses that harm non-companion animals, such as those involved in farming, entertainment, or research, would now be subject to the same criminal penalties for aggravated cruelty as those harming pets.
Potential deterrence and legal impact. The broader language may deter more types of animal cruelty by increasing the risk of prosecution, and could lead to more investigations and legal actions across a wider range of animal abuse cases.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Animal Cruelty Protections
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to domestic animal welfare
- Referred to domestic animal welfare
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.
Expand Animal Cruelty Protections
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Nicole Malliotakis
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2018
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Domestic Animal Welfare
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to aggravated cruelty to animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 118 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
1. A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no justifiable purpose, he or she intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to [a companion] an animal with aggravated cruelty. For purposes of this section, "aggravated cruelty" shall mean conduct which: (i) is intended to cause extreme physical pain; or (ii) is done or carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07343-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to aggra- vated cruelty to animals
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to broaden the existing statute regarding aggravated cruelty to animals to cover all animals, rather than just "companion animals".
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends § 353-a of the agriculture and markets law by replacing "a companion animals" with "an animal".
Justification
350 of the agriculture and markets law defines a "companion animal" as any dog or cat, or any other domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner or person who cares for such other domesticated animal. This means that wild animals and farm animals do not currently receive this protection. Animals killed by hunters, animals killed in emergency situations, and livestock would not be affected by this legislation because the existing law only covers conduct "with no justifiable purpose." This language is not altered by this legislation.
Fiscal impact
None.
Legislative history
2018: S.6186 - Referred to Agriculture/A.4850 - Referred to Agriculture 2017: S.6186 - Referred to Agriculture/A.4850 - Referred to Agriculture 2016: S.5116 - Referred to Agriculture/A.5506 - Referred to Agriculture
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.