S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6210
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 17, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SKARTADOS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to liability of
owners for dog bites
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 "Frankie
Flora's Law".
S 2. The general obligations law is amended by adding a new section
11-108 to read as follows:
S 11-108. LIABILITY OF OWNER OF DOG; INJURY TO INDIVIDUALS AND COMPAN-
ION ANIMALS; EXCEPTIONS. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW,
THE OWNER OF A DOG SHALL BE STRICTLY LIABLE FOR MEDICAL COSTS RESULTING
FROM AN INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANION ANIMAL BEING BITTEN BY SUCH OWNER'S DOG.
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ANY COMPENSATION ABOVE AND BEYOND MEDICAL COSTS
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, THE VICTIM MUST PROVE THE DOG HAD
DANGEROUS OR VICIOUS PROPENSITIES AND THE OWNER HAD KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH
PROPENSITIES.
2. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL AUTHORIZE THE BRINGING OF AN ACTION
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION AGAINST ANY PERSON, GOVERN-
MENTAL ENTITY OR INSTRUMENTALITY USING A POLICE WORK DOG, HEARING DOG OR
SERVICE DOG FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE IF THE BITE OR BITES OCCURRED WHILE
THE DOG WAS DEFENDING ITSELF FROM AN ANNOYING, HARASSING OR PROVOKING
ACT, OR ASSISTING AN EMPLOYEE OF THE ENTITY OR LOCALITY IN THE PERFORM-
ANCE OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES.
3. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO LIMIT OR IMPAIR ANY CAUSE OF
ACTION AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW AVAILABLE TO A
PERSON OR COMPANION ANIMAL INJURED AS A RESULT OF A DOG BITE OR BITES.
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER STATU-
TORY REMEDIES.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07877-03-5
A. 6210 2
4. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "COMPANION ANIMAL" SHALL
HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION THREE
HUNDRED FIFTY OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law.