New York S 1278: Prohibits persons who have been convicted of animal cruelty from working at an animal shelter

Bill Text

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S01278 Summary:

BILL NOS01278 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORGALLIVAN

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COSPNSRMURRAY, RHOADS

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§353-a, 353, 351 & 355, Ag & Mkts L

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Prohibits persons who have been convicted of animal cruelty from working at an animal shelter; makes such violation a class A misdemeanor.

Go to top S01278 Actions:

BILL NOS01278 

&nbsp

01/09/2025REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

01/07/2026REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

Go to topS01278 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS01278 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS01278 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 1278

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 January 9, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. GALLIVAN, MURRAY -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture

 AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to limiting
 the right of a person who has violated certain animal cruelty statutes
 from working at an animal shelter

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law is amended
 2 by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
 3 4. No person who is convicted of a violation of this section shall be
 4 allowed to accept or remain in a position as a dog control officer,
 5 animal control officer, or as a paid employee or volunteer at the
 6 following types of establishments: an animal shelter, pound, duly incor-
 7 porated humane society, duly incorporated animal protective association,
 8 or duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals,
 9 on and after the effective date of this subdivision. For the purposes
 10 of this subdivision, the term "volunteer" shall not include anyone
 11 required by court order to fulfill a community service requirement in
 12 service at any animal shelter, pound, duly incorporated humane society,
 13 duly incorporated animal protective association, or duly incorporated
 14 society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Any dog control offi-
 15 cer, animal control officer or paid employee or volunteer found in
 16 violation of this subdivision shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
 17 § 2. Section 353 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by
 18 chapter 458 of the laws of 1985 and the opening paragraph as amended by
 19 chapter 523 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
 20 § 353. Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide
 21 proper sustenance. 1. A person who overdrives, overloads, tortures or
 22 cruelly beats or unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates or kills any
 23 animal, whether wild or tame, and whether belonging to [himself] such
 24 person or to another, or deprives any animal of necessary sustenance,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04114-01-5

 S. 1278 2

 1 food or drink, or neglects or refuses to furnish it such sustenance or
 2 drink, or causes, procures or permits any animal to be overdriven, over-
 3 loaded, tortured, cruelly beaten, or unjustifiably injured, maimed,
 4 mutilated or killed, or to be deprived of necessary food or drink, or
 5 who wilfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way
 6 furthers any act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce
 7 such cruelty, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor and for purposes of
 8 paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section 160.10 of the criminal
 9 procedure law, shall be treated as a misdemeanor defined in the penal
 10 law.
 11 2. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit or inter-
 12 fere with any properly conducted scientific tests, experiments or inves-
 13 tigations, involving the use of living animals, performed or conducted
 14 in laboratories or institutions, which are approved for these purposes
 15 by the state commissioner of health. The state commissioner of health
 16 shall prescribe the rules under which such approvals shall be granted,
 17 including therein standards regarding the care and treatment of any such
 18 animals. Such rules shall be published and copies thereof conspic