What's happening
This bill, "Templeton's Law," requires counties to create a public online alert system identifying blocks where convicted dangerous dog owners reside.
Why it matters
Increases public awareness and safety. by allowing residents to easily check if someone convicted of a dangerous dog offense lives on their block, potentially helping families make informed choices about walking routes, play areas, and neighborhood interactions.
Requires ongoing updates and coordination. among municipal and county clerks, ensuring that public information remains current when a dangerous dog dies or its owner moves—so the alert system accurately reflects current risks.
Enables local governments to use even more detailed notifications. (such as names or addresses) if they choose, which could further enhance transparency—but also raises possible privacy considerations for dog owners.
May have administrative and cost implications. for local governments, as they must build, maintain, and regularly update the online alert system, as well as coordinate between multiple municipal offices.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Alert System for Dangerous Dogs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
369
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to implementing a dangerous dog owner alert system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known as "Templeton's Law".
§ 2. Subdivision 6 of section 209-cc of the general municipal law is renumbered subdivision 7 and a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
6. (a) The clerk of each city, town or village shall provide necessary data to the clerk of the county where such city, town or village is located and such county shall maintain a web page listing the block of all residences where such dogs are kept within such municipality. Such web page shall provide, for each block listed, a link to a mapping service site that utilizes global positioning system technology to provide street maps and satellite imagery of such blocks. The county clerk shall post on such web page notifications of the block where the owner resides with a conviction for an offense involving a dangerous dog. Posting such notification on the web page shall not preclude a city, town or village from using any other specific information such as a resident's name, address, dog's name or any other additional means of notifying local residents of such convictions.
(b) Upon the death of a dangerous dog, the owner of such dangerous dog shall notify the clerk of the municipality in which he resides. The clerk, in turn, shall forward such notification to the county clerk of the county where such municipality is located.
(c) Upon a change of residence, the owner of a dangerous dog shall notify the clerk in the municipality which he is moving from and shall notify the clerk of the municipality in which he shall reside that he is
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03891-01-9
S. 369 2
the owner of a dangerous dog and shall provide his address. The clerks, in turn, shall forward such notification to the county clerk of the county where such municipalities are located.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to implementing a dangerous dog owner alert system
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would instruct municipalities to alert constituents via the web, email or social media when an owner of a dangerous dog has been convicted while protecting such individual's privacy by merely noting the block in which the violator lives and not any identifying details such as names, addresses or phone numbers.
Summary of specific provisions
1. § 2. Subdivision 6 of section 209-cc of the general municipal law is renumbered subdivision 7 and a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
6.(a) The clerk of each city, town or village shall provide necessary data to the clerk of the county where such city, town or village is located and such county shall maintain a web page listing the block of all residences where such dogs are kept within such municipality. Such web page shall provide, for each block listed, a link to a mapping service site that utilizes global positioning system technology to provide street maps and satellite imagery of such blocks. The county clerk shall post on such web page notifications of the block where the owner resides with a conviction for an offense involving a dangerous dog. Posting such notification on the web page shall not preclude a city, town of village from using any other specific information such as a resident's name, address, dog's name or any other additional means of notifying local residents of such convictions,
(b) Upon the death of a dangerous dog, the owner of such dangerous dog shall notify the clerk of the municipality in which he resides. The clerk, in turn, shall forward such notification to the county clerk of the county where such municipality is located.
(c) Upon a change of residence, the owner of a dangerous dog shall noti- fy the clerk in the municipality which he is moving from and shall noti- fy the clerk of the municipality in which he shall reside that he is the owner of a dangerous dog and shall provide his address. The clerks, in turn, shall forward such notification to the county clerk of the county where such municipalities are located.
Justification
On June 30, 2014, Rebecca Cigal of Niskayuna took her dog, Templeton, for a walk on Dean Street in the City of Schenectady when two dogs that had two previous charges of attacking others savagely mauled Templeton, ultimately killing the dog. Had Ms. Cigal known there were dangerous dogs on that block not secured by their owners, she would have elected to walk her dog elsewhere.
Our residents shouldn't have to live in fear for their own safety or the safety of their companion animals when they go for a walk because of irresponsible dog owners. This bill serves to mitigate future dangerous dog attacks by giving more transparency and information to the public about dangerous dogs that are in their neighborhood so they can be more aware of their surroundings while out for a walk.
Prior legislative history
03/27/15: S.4567 REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT 01/06/16: S.4567 REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT 01/13/17: S.2502 REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT 01/03/18: S.2502 REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.