S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8597--A
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 29, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. MILLMAN, CAMARA, ESPAILLAT, DINOWITZ, ROBINSON --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, MAISEL, TITONE,
WEISENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
-- recommitted to the Committee on Agriculture in accordance with
Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to enacting
the prevention of farm animal cruelty act
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "prevention
of farm animal cruelty act".
S 2. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
section 380 to read as follows:
S 380. PROHIBITED TREATMENT OF FARM ANIMALS. 1. ALL FARM AND LIVESTOCK
ANIMALS SHALL BE KEPT, RAISED AND BRED UNDER HUMANE TREATMENT STANDARDS
AND CONDITIONS. NO PERSON SHALL KEEP, RAISE OR BREED ANY COVERED ANIMAL
ON A FARM OR AT AN ANIMAL FACILITY UNDER INHUMANE CONDITIONS, INCLUDING:
(A) TETHERING OR CONFINING ANY COVERED ANIMAL FOR ALL OR THE MAJORITY
OF ANY DAY, IN A MANNER THAT PREVENTS SUCH ANIMAL FROM (1) LYING DOWN,
STANDING UP, AND FULLY EXTENDING HIS OR HER LIMBS, AND (2) TURNING
AROUND FREELY;
(B) EXCESSIVELY BREEDING ANY COVERED ANIMAL OR BREEDING A COVERED
ANIMAL IN A MANNER LIKELY TO CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR THE ANIMAL OR ITS
YOUNG;
(C) UTILIZING GAVAGE TECHNIQUES OR OTHERWISE FORCE FEEDING ANY COVERED
ANIMAL;
(D) KEEPING ANY COVERED ANIMAL IN EXCESSIVELY CROWDED, UNSANITARY OR
UNSAFE CONDITIONS, INCLUDING:
(1) KEEPING ANY COVERED ANIMAL IN ENCLOSURES STACKED MORE THAN TWO
ENCLOSURES HIGH;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11313-02-0
A. 8597--A 2
(2) FAILING TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR ANY COVERED ANIMAL FROM INCLEMENT
WEATHER; AND
(3) KEEPING ANY COVERED ANIMAL IN AREAS CONTAINING TRASH OR HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCES;
(E) FAILING TO PROVIDE DAILY NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND POTABLE WATER TO ANY
COVERED ANIMAL AS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SIZE, AGE AND CONDITION OF THE
ANIMAL; OR
(F) FAILING TO OBTAIN APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE FOR AND TREATMENT OF
ANY COVERED ANIMAL, INCLUDING NON-ELECTIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURES.
2. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY:
(A) TO ANY COVERED ANIMAL:
(1) DURING SCIENTIFIC OR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH;
(2) DURING EXAMINATION, TESTING, INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT OR OPERATION FOR
VETERINARY PURPOSES;
(3) DURING TRANSPORTATION;
(4) DURING RODEO EXHIBITIONS, STATE OR COUNTY FAIR EXHIBITIONS, 4-H
PROGRAMS, AND SIMILAR EXHIBITIONS; OR
(5) DURING THE SLAUGHTER OF A COVERED ANIMAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 6 (COMMENCING WITH SECTION 19501) OF PART 3 OF
DIVISION 9 OF THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE, RELATING TO HUMANE METHODS
OF SLAUGHTER, AND OTHER APPLICABLE LAW AND REGULATIONS; OR
(B) TO A PIG DURING THE SEVEN-DAY PERIOD PRIOR TO THE PIG'S EXPECTED
DATE OF GIVING BIRTH.
3. NO PERSON SHALL SELL, GIVE AWAY OR TRANSFER ANY COVERED ANIMAL
KEPT, BORN OR BRED AT ANY FARM OR ANIMAL FACILITY THAT BREEDS OR MAIN-
TAINS ANIMALS UNDER INHUMANE CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO AVOID LIABILITY FOR
A VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
4. (A) ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR, AND UPON CONVICTION THEREOF SHALL BE
PUNISHED BY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS AND NOT
MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR BY IMPRISONMENT FOR A PERIOD NOT TO
EXCEED ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OR BY BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT.
(B) THE DEPARTMENT, AT ITS DISCRETION, SHALL REVIEW THE NATURE OF SUCH
VIOLATION OR VIOLATIONS, AND MAY REMOVE ANY ANIMAL OR ANIMALS AND PLACE
THEM IN THE CARE OF A VETERINARIAN, ANIMAL SHELTER OR OTHER APPROPRIATE
RESCUE GROUP OR FACILITY. THE INDIVIDUAL IN VIOLATION SHALL BE REQUIRED
TO PAY ALL REASONABLE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARE OF SEIZED ANIMALS.
(C) ANY PERSON DETERMINED TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL
PRESENT TO THE DEPARTMENT, A SWORN, WRITTEN STATEMENT SIGNED BY A VETER-
INARIAN CERTIFYING THAT THE FARM OR ANIMAL FACILITY HAS ABIDED BY ALL
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT PERTAIN TO THE
HUMANE TREATMENT OR CONDITIONS OF ANIMALS, IN ORDER FOR SUCH PERSON TO
RESUME HOUSING ANIMALS AT A FARM OR ANIMAL FACILITY.
(D) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PRECLUDE ANY PEACE OR ANIMAL CONTROL
OFFICER WHO SHALL HAVE THE POWERS OF A PEACE OFFICER AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 2.10 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW WITH RESPECT TO THIS SECTION
FROM ENFORCING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION IF HE OR SHE SHALL RECEIVE
ORALLY OR IN WRITING A REPORT OF ANY INHUMANE CONDITION AT SUCH FARM OR
ANIMAL FACILITY.
(E) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION ARE IN ADDITION TO, AND NOT IN LIEU
OF, ANY OTHER LAWS PROTECTING ANIMAL WELFARE, INCLUDING THE PENAL LAW.
THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT ANY STATE LAW OR REGU-
LATIONS PROTECTING THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS, NOR SHALL ANYTHING IN THIS
SECTION PREVENT A LOCAL GOVERNING BODY FROM ADOPTING AND ENFORCING ITS
OWN ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
A. 8597--A 3
5. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION: (A) "ANIMAL FACILITY" MEANS ANY
AREA BUILT, INSTALLED OR DESIGNED TO SERVE AS A BREEDING OR MAINTAINING
AREA FOR ANIMALS;
(B) "COVERED ANIMAL" MEANS ANY PORCINE, BOVINE, OR POULTRY SPECIES
ADULT OR JUVENILE ANIMAL OR FOWL KEPT ON A FARM FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PRODUCING FOOD PRODUCTS, INCLUDING MEAT, EGGS AND MILK;
(C) "ENCLOSURE" MEANS ANY CAGE, CRATE, OR OTHER STRUCTURE (INCLUDING
WHAT IS COMMONLY DESCRIBED AS A "GESTATION CRATE" FOR PIGS; A "VEAL
CRATE" FOR CALVES; OR A "BATTERY CAGE" FOR EGG-LAYING HENS) USED TO
CONFINE A COVERED ANIMAL;
(D) "FARM" MEANS THE LAND, BUILDING, SUPPORT FACILITIES, AND OTHER
EQUIPMENT THAT ARE WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY USED FOR THE COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTION OF ANIMALS OR ANIMAL PRODUCTS USED FOR FOOD OR FIBER; AND
DOES NOT INCLUDE LIVE ANIMAL MARKETS;
(E) "FULLY EXTENDING HIS OR HER LIMBS" MEANS FULLY EXTENDING ALL LIMBS
WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SIDE OF AN ENCLOSURE, INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF
EGG-LAYING HENS, FULLY SPREADING BOTH WINGS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SIDE OF
AN ENCLOSURE OR OTHER EGG-LAYING HENS;
(F) "HUMANE TREATMENT STANDARDS" MEANS RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMUL-
GATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS INVOLVED
IN ANIMAL BREEDING. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION:
ADEQUATE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE ANIMAL, DAILY MINIMUM AMOUNTS OF
EXERCISE EACH ANIMAL SHALL RECEIVE AND DAILY HUMAN INTERACTION;
(G) "INHUMANE CONDITION" MEANS VIOLATION OF ANY FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL
LAW OR REGULATION THAT PERTAINS TO THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS,
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, ENDANGERING THE LIFE OR HEALTH OF AN ANIMAL OR TO
THE CARE, TREATMENT, SALE, POSSESSION OR HANDLING OF ANIMALS, OR TO
CRIMES INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE;
(H) "NONELECTIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURE" MEANS A SURGICAL PROCEDURE THAT
IS NECESSARY TO PRESERVE OR RESTORE THE HEALTH OF AN ANIMAL, TO PREVENT
AN ANIMAL FROM EXPERIENCING PAIN OR DISCOMFORT, OR TO CORRECT A CONDI-
TION THAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH AN ANIMAL'S ABILITY TO WALK, RUN, JUMP,
OR OTHERWISE FUNCTION IN A NORMAL MANNER;
(I) "PERSON" MEANS ANY INDIVIDUAL, FIRM, PARTNERSHIP, JOINT VENTURE,
ASSOCIATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, CORPORATION, ESTATE, TRUST,
RECEIVER, OR SYNDICATE; AND
(J) "TURNING AROUND FREELY" MEANS TURNING IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE WITHOUT
ANY IMPEDIMENT, INCLUDING A TETHER, AND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SIDE OF AN
ENCLOSURE.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law, provided that effective immediately, the
commissioner of agriculture and markets is authorized to promulgate any
and all rules and regulations and take any other measures necessary to
implement the provisions of this act on its effective date on or before
such date.