New York A 640: Relates to requiring all parties to an annulment or divorce to remove religious barriers to remarriage

Bill Text

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A00640 Summary:

BILL NOA00640 

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SAME ASSAME AS S02296

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SPONSORRosenthal

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COSPNSRSimon, Paulin, Burdick, Gonzalez-Rojas, Mitaynes, Dinowitz, Epstein, Colton, Schiavoni

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MLTSPNSR

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Add Art 22-D §859-a, Judy L

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Relates to the creation of a court appointed advocate for animals.

Go to top A00640 Actions:

BILL NOA00640 

&nbsp

01/08/2025referred to judiciary

01/07/2026referred to judiciary

Go to topA00640 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA00640 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA00640 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 640

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, SIMON, PAULIN, BURDICK, GONZALEZ-RO-
 JAS, MITAYNES, DINOWITZ, EPSTEIN, COLTON -- read once and referred to
 the Committee on Judiciary

 AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, in relation to the creation of a
 court appointed advocate for animals

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

 1 Section 1. The judiciary law is amended by adding a new article 22-D
 2 to read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE 22-D
 4 SPECIAL ADVOCATES FOR ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM
 5 Section 859-a. Special advocate in proceedings regarding animal welfare.
 6 § 859-a. Special advocate in proceedings regarding animal welfare. 1.
 7 In any civil or criminal proceeding regarding the welfare of an animal,
 8 the court may order, upon its own initiative or upon request of a party
 9 or counsel for a party, that a separate advocate be appointed to repre-
 10 sent the interests of such animal and to help ensure the well-being of
 11 any living animal victim. If a court orders that an advocate be
 12 appointed to represent the interests of an animal, the court shall
 13 appoint such advocate from a list provided to the court by the chief
 14 judge of the state of New York pursuant to subdivision five of this
 15 section.
 16 2. The advocate shall:
 17 (a) monitor the case;
 18 (b) have access to relevant files, documents, and reports related to
 19 the case;
 20 (c) review records relating to the condition of the animal and the
 21 defendant's actions, including, but not limited to, records from animal
 22 control officers, officers of a duly incorporated society for the
 23 prevention of cruelty to animals, veterinarians and police officers;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD02009-01-5

 A. 640 2

 1 (d) share with attorneys for the state and defendant any information
 2 new to the case or prepared by the advocate for presentation to the
 3 court or either party; and
 4 (e) present information and recommendations to the court pertinent to
 5 determinations that relate to the interests of the animal in question,
 6 provided such information and recommendations result from executing the
 7 duties undertaken pursuant to this subdivision. Such information and
 8 recommendations may be based upon the knowledge and experience of the
 9 advocate or another specialist with specific knowledge and experience
 10 related to the type of animal involved in the case.
 11 3. The advocate may:
 12 (a) consult any individual with information that could aid the judge
 13 or fact finder;
 14 (b) attend hearings; and
 15 (c) as needed and appropriate, provide a victim impact statement to
 16 the court.
 17 4. Advocates shall not have discovery or subpoena powers.
 18 5. The office of court administration shall maintain a list of attor-
 19 neys and supervised law students who have indicated a willingness to
 20 serve as advocates under this section on a voluntary basis and are
 21 eligible to do so. Law student advocates shall be supervised in accord-
 22 ance with sections four hundred seventy-eight and four hundred eighty-
 23 four of this chapter and any other applicable laws, rules and regu-
 24 lations.
 25 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 26 it shall have become a law.

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