What's happening
This bill makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly cause a minor under age 16 to attend an animal fighting exhibition.
Why it matters
Expands legal accountability. by making it explicitly illegal to cause a minor under age 16 to attend animal fighting events, targeting not just organizers and spectators but also adults who expose children to these activities.
Aims to protect minors from exposure to animal cruelty. , recognizing the psychological and moral harm that witnessing such violence can inflict on young people.
Creates a deterrent effect. by establishing criminal penalties (up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine) for adults who involve minors, sending a message that exposing children to animal fighting is a serious offense.
Potentially strengthens enforcement. of animal fighting laws by empowering authorities to charge individuals not just for attending or organizing but also for bringing minors to these illegal events, thereby closing a loophole in existing legislation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Kids at Animal Fights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
897
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the prohibition of animal fighting
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 351 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 150 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
4. (a) Any person who engages in conduct specified in paragraph (b) [hereof] or (c) of this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by imprisonment for a period not to exceed one year, or by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(b) The knowing presence as a spectator having paid an admission fee or having made a wager at any place where an exhibition of animal fighting is being conducted; or
(c) Knowingly causing a minor to attend an exhibition of animal fighting. The term "minor" means a person under the age of sixteen years old.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02871-01-5
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.