New York S 9944: Establishes a public animal cruelty registry

Bill Text

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S09944 Summary:

BILL NOS09944 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORADDABBO

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COSPNSRTEDISCO, BORRELLO, MURRAY, PALUMBO, ZELLNER

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

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Add §352, Ag & Mkts L

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Establishes a public animal cruelty registry that requires persons over eighteen years of age convicted of animal abuse to register with the division of criminal justice services; requires such registry to contain certain information about each person registered; requires persons registered to pay an annual surcharge of fifty dollars to be used for costs and expenses associated with maintaining the registry.

Go to top S09944 Actions:

BILL NOS09944 

&nbsp

04/16/2026REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

Go to topS09944 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09944 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS09944 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9944

 IN SENATE

 April 16, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. ADDABBO, TEDISCO -- 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 estab-
 lishing a public animal cruelty registry

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

 1 Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
 2 section 352 to read as follows:
 3 § 352. Public animal cruelty registry. 1. Any person over eighteen
 4 years of age who is convicted of animal abuse pursuant to a violation of
 5 section three hundred fifty-one or three hundred fifty-three-a of this
 6 article, or of the comparable statutes of another state, shall register
 7 with the division of criminal justice services. Such registration shall
 8 be made in a manner and form to be determined by the division of crimi-
 9 nal justice services, and shall include, at a minimum:
 10 (a) the legal name and any other names or aliases that the animal
 11 abuser is using or has used;
 12 (b) the date of birth of the animal abuser;
 13 (c) the social security number of the animal abuser;
 14 (d) the current address or location of the animal abuser;
 15 (e) the place of employment of the animal abuser;
 16 (f) the animal protection offense for which the animal abuser was
 17 convicted;
 18 (g) the date and place of the animal protection offense conviction of
 19 the animal abuser;
 20 (h) a photograph of the animal abuser and a complete set of the animal
 21 abuser's fingerprints; and
 22 (i) a description of any tattoos, scars or other distinguishing
 23 features on the animal abuser's body that would assist in identifying
 24 the animal abuser.
 25 2. Any previously registered animal abuser shall reregister with the
 26 division of criminal justice services no later than ten days after
 27 moving to a new location within the state.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15561-01-6

 S. 9944 2

 1 3. An animal abuser who intentionally or knowingly fails to comply
 2 with the registration requirements set forth in this section, or
 3 provides false information when complying with the registration require-
 4 ments set forth in this section, shall be guilty of a class E felony.
 5 4. The division of criminal justice services shall maintain registra-
 6 tion information received pursuant to this section in a registry. Such
 7 registry shall be available in print, electronic form, through internet
 8 access, telephone access, and in-person access and shall be available to
 9 the public as well as all law enforcement entities, district attorneys,
 10 duly incorporated humane societies, societies for the prevention of
 11 cruelty to animals, dog or cat protective associations, animal control
 12 officers, breeders of animals, animal rescues and pet stores doing busi-
 13 ness in this state. All of the information contained in an animal
 14 abuser's registration, with the exception of the animal abuser's social
 15 security number, shall be made available.
 16 5. Within ten days of receiving initial registration information from
 17 an animal abuser, the division of criminal justice services shall
 18 contact every residence, school, humane society, ani