What's happening
This bill requires the Department of Transportation to notify owners when their animals are killed on highways using tags, chips, web postings, or storage of remains.
Why it matters
Improves closure and reduces distress for pet owners. By requiring notification when an animal is found dead on a highway, owners are more likely to learn what happened to a missing pet, rather than living with uncertainty.
Encourages responsible pet identification. The bill gives practical value to tags and microchips, potentially motivating more owners to properly tag and chip their animals, which can also aid in returning lost pets.
Increases transparency and accountability. Mandating web postings and record-keeping for unidentified animals means there’s a public record, helping communities track incidents and possibly identify problem areas for animal safety.
Sets clear expectations for animal remains handling. Requiring temporary storage of remains gives owners a chance to reclaim them, which can be important for those who want to provide proper burial or closure.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Owners of Dead Pets
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
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.
Notify Owners of Roadkill Pets
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor David Weprin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
76
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ROBACH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to notifying the owner of an animal killed on a highway
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 332 to read as follows:
§ 332. Notifying the owner of an animal killed on a highway. (a) Tags. If the animal has a tag with the family's contact information and/or a license number, the department shall: (i) make a reasonable attempt to notify the family using the contact information and (ii) notify the issuer of the license, if any, so that the issuer will attempt to notify the family.
(b) Chips. The department shall scan the animal's remains for an identification chip and, should a chip be found, notify the chip registry through the registry website or by telephone, in accordance with the information on the identification chip.
(c) Web posting. Absent a tag or identification chip, the department shall use a publicly available website to post a description of the animal and the circumstances of its death; and to post a photograph if the department believes this can be done with due respect for personal and community sensibilities.
(d) Storage. If the department has a suitable temporary storage facility it shall store the animal's remains for at least seven days after the department: (i) collects the remains or (ii) makes actual contact directly with the animal's owners, whichever is longer.
(e) Alternatives. The department can delegate the above functions to another entity such as a shelter or veterinarian.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05216-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to noti- fying the owner of an animal killed on a highway
Purpose
This bill would allow for the owners of a deceased animal to be notified if the death occurred on a stretch of highway.
Summary of specific provisions
Section (1.) The highway law is amended by adding a new section 332 to read as follows, 5.322, to establish the notifying of an owner of an animal killed on a highway. Subsection (a) reading that if the animal. in question has a tag with the family's contact information and/or a license number, the department shall (i.) make a reasonable attempt to notify the family using the contact information and (ii.) notify the issuer of the license, if any, so that the issuer will attempt to notify the family.
Subsection (b) reading that the department shall scan the animal's remains for an identification chip and, should a chip be found, notify the chip registry through website or phone, in accordance with the information on the I.D. Chip.
Subsection (c) reading that in the case the animal is missing a tag or I.D. Chip, the department shall use a publicly available website to post a description of the animal and the circumstances related to death; and to post a photograph of the animal if the department believes it can be done with due respect for personal and community sensibilities.
Subsection (d) reading that if the department has a suitable temporary storage facility it shall store the animal's remains for at least seven days (i.) after pick up or (ii.) make actual contact directly with the animal's owners, whichever is longer.
Subsection (e) reading that the department can delegate the above func- tions to another entity such as a shelter or veterinarian.
Justification
In most cases if a pet is killed in an accident on the highway the remains are not taken to a shelter and scanned for identification marks such as an identification tag/chip but rather the remains are disposed of by highway maintenance. Furthermore the highway maintenance crews have no legal responsibility, nos do they possess the resources, to scan the remains for identification marks and report the death to the owner(s). This bill would allow for the owner's to receive piece of mind by creating several standards for the notification in cases of death on a highway.
Prior legislative history
2016 passed Senate 2017-2018 Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.