A. 39/S. 5309 Provides that orders of protection may also grant victim of domestic violence exclusive custody of animals.
A. 41 Establishes animals as sentient beings.
A. 54/S. 6315 Restricts tethering of dogs.
A. 71 Creates task force to study animal protection laws and to make recommendations to modernize them.
A. 111/S. 1659 Provides that a court may order the appointment of an advocate to represent the interests of an animal in a criminal proceeding regarding the welfare of an animal victim.
A.158 and S. 5325 Increases penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals (Tucker’s Law).
A. 390/S. 299 Increases penalties for animal fighting and aggravated cruelty to animals and requires psychiatric evaluation of defendants convicted of aggravated cruelty.
A. 394 Increases potential term of imprisonment for felony aggravated cruelty to animals if done in the presence of a child.
A. 399 Establishes a database to include persons convicted of mistreating animals.
A. 433/S. 294 Prohibits a person convicted of aggravated cruelty to animals from owning or possessing a companion animal unless authorized by court order after psychiatric or psychological testing demonstrates that such person is capable of caring for an animal in a humane manner.
A. 444 Criminalizes taking a child to an animal fighting exhibition.
A. 483 Makes it a felony to intentionally injure or kill an animal with no justifiable purpose in order to threaten, intimidate or harass a family or household member. Penalty is increased if done in the presence of a minor.
A.768-A/S.460-A Expands felony aggravated animal cruelty law by making it applicable to wildlife. Currently this law only applies to companion animals (while cruelty to wildlife is only a misdemeanor).
A. 766/S. 761 Removes requirement that an animal must suffer serious physical injuries in order for the animal abuser to be convicted of felony aggravated cruelty to animals.
A.1148-A/S.3431-A Increases penalties for animal fighting.
A. 1196/S. 1182 Provides SPCA officers with access to the live scan fingerprinting system or similar technology to independently effectuate arrests.
A. 1225 Provides that persons convicted of violating animal fighting and animal cruelty laws may be prohibited from owning, harboring, possessing, adopting, fostering or exercising control over a companion animal for a period of time set by the court but not less than five years.
A. 1430 Makes felony aggravated cruelty to animals done in the presence of a child a class D felony.
A. 1507 Provides that the court must require a mental health evaluation when a person is convicted of animal fighting or aggravated cruelty to animals.
A. 1639 Requires the district attorney in each county to appoint at least one assistant district attorney to oversee the prosecution of animal crimes.
A. 1650 Expands felony aggravated cruelty to animals law to include persons who have been convicted of misdemeanor cruelty to animals more than once in a five year period.
A. 1865 Adds sexual contact with an animal to the animal cruelty laws and prohibits people convicted of this crime from having an animal.
A. 3840/S. 4279 Provides for increased penalties and language changes to animal cruelty laws and transfers many of these laws from the Agriculture and Markets Law to the Penal Law.
A. 3908/S. 5947 Provides that persons charged with filing reports of suspected child abuse shall report suspected animal abuse that they see during their official duties.
A. 4246 Includes animal cruelty offenses as eligible for pretrial detention and bail.
A. 4553/S. 1561 Establishes the crime of aggravated neglect of companion animals.
A. 5160/S. 4115 Expands application of felony animal cruelty law to make it applicable to people who have more than one conviction of misdemeanor animal cruelty in ten years.
A. 5165 Expands sheltering requirements for dogs outside.
A. 5177/S. 3075 Expands definition of aggravated cruelty to animals to include reckless conduct which causes serious physical harm or death to an animal.
A. 5179/S. 4602 Expands felony aggravated animal cruelty law to be applicable to all animals.
A. 5184/S. 3088 Expands definition of aggravated cruelty to animals to include use of a weapon.
A. 5192/S. 4105 Increases penalties for causing the death of an animal.
A. 5809 Creates statewide animal abuser registry.
A. 5820 Authorizes bail for people charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.
A. 5847 Includes the theft of dogs and cats within the crime of grand larceny.
A. 7084/S.6913 Expands aggravated cruelty to animals law by including physical injuries to animals caused by the use of a deadly weapon.
S. 96 Expands definition of aggravated cruelty to animals to include harm to a companion animal during the commission of a felony.
S.907 Establishes a registry and requires people convicted of felony animal cruelty or animal fighting to register with the Division of Criminal Justice Services.
S. 2183 Includes reckless operation of a motor vehicle resulting in the death or serious injury of a companion animal in the definition of aggravated animal cruelty.
S. 7317 Removes requirement that an animal be killed with aggravated cruelty in order to be found guilty of felony cruelty to animals.
To help take action on any of these or other animal protection bills pending before the NYS Legislature, use the methods below to reach lawmakers.
If you do not know their names or contact information, go to www.nyassembly.gov and www.nysenate.gov. If you provide your address, you can get this information. In your communication, mention that you are a constituent and include your address.
Name: Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Majority Leader
Phone: (518)455-2585
Email: scousins@nysenate.gov
Fax: (518)426-6811;
Address: Room 907, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
Name:
Carl E. Heastie, Assembly Speaker
Phone: (518)455-3791
Email: speaker@nyassembly.gov
Fax: (518)455-4812
Address: Room 932, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248