S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                   687

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             January 7, 2015
                               ___________

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  rescued
  companion animals

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
section 356-a to read as follows:
  S 356-A. EXAMINATION OF RESCUED COMPANION ANIMALS. 1. ANY ORGANIZATION
THAT RECEIVES RESCUED, SEIZED, CAPTURED OR IMPOUNDED COMPANION  ANIMALS,
SUCH  AS  ANY  RESCUE  GROUP,  VETERINARIAN, LABORATORY, POUND, SHELTER,
SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, ANIMAL  CONTROL  OFFI-
CER, PEACE OFFICER, AND INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SHELTERS OR POUNDS
ESTABLISHED  OR  CONTRACTED PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINE OF THIS
CHAPTER, SHALL EXAMINE EVERY SUCH COMPANION  ANIMAL  WITHIN  TWENTY-FOUR
HOURS OF THE INTAKE OF SUCH ANIMAL.
  2. SUCH ORGANIZATION SHALL EXAMINE THE COMPANION ANIMAL FOR:
  (A) IDENTIFYING MARKS INCLUDING, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, TATTOOS;
  (B) IDENTIFICATION TAGS;
  (C) IDENTIFYING MICROCHIPS; AND
  (D) RABIES LICENSE TAGS.
  3.  (A)  REGISTERED OWNERS, CARETAKERS OR AGENTS SHALL BE CONTACTED AS
SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE, BY ANY METHOD AVAILABLE FROM SUCH IDENTIFY-
ING INFORMATION, AND ALERTED THAT SUCH ANIMAL HAS BEEN TAKEN IN  AND  IS
AVAILABLE FOR REDEMPTION.
  (B) IF LISTED OWNERS, CARETAKERS OR AGENTS CANNOT BE LOCATED OR REFUSE
TO RECLAIM POSSESSION OF SUCH COMPANION ANIMAL, SECONDARY CONTACTS LIST-
ED SHALL BE CONTACTED AS SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE.
  4.  (A)  ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY
SHELTER, VETERINARIAN OR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER THAT CONTACTS THE REGIS-
TERED OWNER, CARETAKER OR AGENT OF ANY COMPANION ANIMAL IN GOOD FAITH IS

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04047-01-5
              

A. 687                              2

IMMUNE FROM CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LIABILITY, EXCEPT FOR WILLFUL AND  WANTON
MISCONDUCT.
  (B) THIS SUBDIVISION DOES NOT PRECLUDE CIVIL OR CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR
ACTS  NOT  DIRECTLY  RELATED  TO  ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT REGISTERED OWNERS,
CARETAKERS OR AGENTS.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation  of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or
before such date.