NY State Senate Bill 2015-S6919

Senate Bill S6919

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Creates a task force to study how to improve investigations of animal abuse and enforcement of anti-animal abuse laws

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Agriculture Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 07, 2016	referred to agriculture

co-Sponsors

2015-S6919 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A346
Current Committee:: Senate Agriculture
Law Section:: Agriculture and Markets Law
Laws Affected:: Add §380, Ag & Mkts L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2011-2012: A9576
2013-2014: A741
2017-2018: S2557, A1279
2019-2020: A277
2021-2022: A162
2023-2024: A71

2015-S6919 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Creates a task force to study how to improve investigations of animal abuse and enforcement of anti-animal abuse laws and requires reporting to the governor and legislature of recommendations on how to increase statewide uniformity of such.

2015-S6919 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6919                    Revised 03/07/16

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to
establishing a task force to study how to improve investigations of
animal abuse and enforcement of anti-animal abuse laws; and providing
for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

To create a Task Force to study the various methods and strategies
employed Statewide to investigate animal abuse and enforce anti-abuse
laws.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section one of this bill amends the Agriculture and Markets Law by
adding a new section 380. This new section creates the task force on
how to improve investigations of animal abuse and enforcement of
anti-animal abuse laws. This task force will have nine members. The
task force is charged to study current law enforcement practices in
the areas of animal abuse investigation and anti-animal abuse law
enforcement and make recommendations to increase the effectiveness of
such practices. Finally, the task force must submit a preliminary
report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year

after the effective date of new section 380.

Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on
the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law and shall expire
twenty-four months after it shall have become a law when upon such
date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Across the State of New York, investigations into animal cruelty and
the enforcement of anti-abuse laws vary widely by county or
municipality. While New York City utilizes humane law enforcement to
conduct investigations and enforce anti-animal abuse laws, other
jurisdictions rely on traditional law enforcement agencies such as the
police department and district attorneys. Certain localities are well
funded and use sophisticated strategies to combat abuse while others
lack the requisite manpower and technology.

This legislation will create a task force to investigate these
disparate practices. The ultimate goal of this task force is to
present a comprehensive, unified view of the State's animal protection
strategies. It is certain that as information is shared more
effectively among agencies, limited resources available can be
employed with much greater efficiency.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Undetermined

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law and shall expire twenty-four months after it shall have
become a law when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be
deemed repealed.

2015-S6919 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  6919

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              March 7, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  GOLDEN -- 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 task force to study how to improve investigations of animal
  abuse and enforcement of anti-animal abuse laws; and providing for the
  repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

  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 380 to read as follows:
  S 380.  TASK FORCE ON HOW TO IMPROVE INVESTIGATIONS  OF  ANIMAL  ABUSE
AND  ENFORCEMENT  OF ANTI-ANIMAL ABUSE LAWS. 1. THE TASK FORCE ON HOW TO
IMPROVE INVESTIGATIONS OF ANIMAL ABUSE AND  ENFORCEMENT  OF  ANTI-ANIMAL
ABUSE  LAWS  IS HEREBY CREATED TO EXAMINE, EVALUATE AND DETERMINE HOW TO
IMPROVE INVESTIGATIONS OF ANIMAL ABUSE AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF  ANTI-ANI-
MAL ABUSE LAWS.
  2.(A) SUCH TASK FORCE SHALL CONSIST OF NINE MEMBERS, EACH TO SERVE FOR
A  TERM  OF  ONE  CALENDAR  YEAR.    SUCH  MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED AS
FOLLOWS: ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; ONE SHALL BE  APPOINTED
BY  THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE
MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE; ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER  OF
THE  ASSEMBLY;  ONE  SHALL  BE  APPOINTED  BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE
ASSEMBLY; ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF  THE  DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION; ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSION-
ER  OF  HEALTH  AND THE REMAINING TWO MEMBERS SHALL  BE APPOINTED BY THE
COMMISSIONER. APPOINTMENTS SHALL BE MADE WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE EFFEC-
TIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. VACANCIES IN THE TASK FORCE SHALL  BE  FILLED
IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.
  (B)  ALL  APPOINTEES  SHALL  HAVE  EXPERTISE  IN FIELDS OR DISCIPLINES
RELATED TO ANIMALS, ANIMAL ABUSE AND/OR INVESTIGATIONS. ALL APPOINTMENTS
SHALL BE COORDINATED TO  ENSURE  GEOGRAPHIC  REPRESENTATION  FROM    THE
ENTIRE STATE.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04024-05-6

S. 6919                             2

  (C)  THE  TASK  FORCE  SHALL  BE  CHAIRED BY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONER'S
APPOINTEES. THE TASK FORCE SHALL ELECT A VICE-CHAIR AND OTHER  NECESSARY
OFFICERS FROM AMONG ALL APPOINTED MEMBERS.
  (D)  A  MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE THEN IN OFFICE SHALL
CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS OR THE  EXERCISE  OF
ANY  POWER OR FUNCTION OF THE TASK FORCE. AN ACT, DETERMINATION OR DECI-
SION OF THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT DURING  THE  PRESENCE  OF  A
QUORUM  SHALL  BE  HELD TO BE THE ACT, DETERMINATION, OR DECISION OF THE
TASK FORCE.
  (E) THE TASK FORCE SHALL MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY AT THE  CALL  OF  THE
CHAIR.  MEETINGS MAY BE HELD VIA TELECONFERENCE. SPECIAL MEETINGS MAY BE
CALLED BY THE CHAIR AT THE REQUEST OF A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS  OF  THE
TASK FORCE.
  (F)  MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR
SERVICES BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR ACTUAL EXPENSES  INCURRED  IN
THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES IN THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE.
  3. THE TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED SHALL:
  (A) STUDY CURRENT ANIMAL ABUSE INVESTIGATION AND ANTI-ANIMAL ABUSE LAW
ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES; AND
  (B)  RECOMMEND  ANIMAL  ABUSE  INVESTIGATION AND ANTI-ANIMAL ABUSE LAW
ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS ACROSS THE STATE.
  4. THE TASK FORCE MAY ESTABLISH SUCH ADVISORY COMMITTEES AS  IT  DEEMS
APPROPRIATE  ON  MATTERS  RELATING TO THE TASK FORCE'S FUNCTIONS, POWERS
AND DUTIES. SUCH COMMITTEES SHALL BE CHAIRED BY A TASK FORCE MEMBER, BUT
MAY BE COMPOSED OF TASK FORCE  MEMBERS  AS  WELL  AS  OTHER  INDIVIDUALS
SELECTED  BY THE TASK FORCE TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE OF INTEREST SPECIFIC TO
THE CHARGE OF SUCH COMMITTEE.
  5. THE TASK FORCE MAY, AS IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE, REQUEST THAT  STUDIES,
SURVEYS,  OR  ANALYSES RELATING TO THE TASK FORCE'S POWERS AND DUTIES BE
PERFORMED BY ANY STATE DEPARTMENT, COMMISSION, AGENCY OR PUBLIC AUTHORI-
TY. ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSIONS, AGENCIES OR  PUBLIC  AUTHORITIES
SHALL  PROVIDE  INFORMATION  AND ADVICE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND OTHERWISE
ASSIST THE TASK FORCE WITH ITS WORK.
  6. THE TASK FORCE SHALL SUBMIT A  REQUEST  FOR  ANY  APPROPRIATION  AS
SHALL BE NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE TASK FORCE TO PERFORM ITS FUNCTIONS AND
DUTIES  TO  THE  GOVERNOR,  DIRECTOR  OF THE DIVISION OF THE BUDGET, AND
CHAIRPERSONS OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE ASSEMBLY  WAYS  AND
MEANS COMMITTEE. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE STAFF SERVICES TO THE TASK
FORCE  AND  SUCH OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR
THE TASK FORCE TO CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS.
  7. THE TASK FORCE MAY HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, TAKE  TESTIMONY  AND  MAKE
INVESTIGATIONS AT SUCH PLACES AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY.
  8.  THE TASK FORCE SHALL MAKE A PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND
THE LEGISLATURE OF ITS FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIV-
ITIES ALREADY UNDERTAKEN BY THE TASK FORCE,  NOT  LATER  THAN  ONE  YEAR
AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS SECTION, AND A FINAL REPORT OF ITS
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIVITIES ALREADY UNDERTAKEN
BY THE TASK FORCE, NOT LATER THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE  OF
THIS  SECTION AND SHALL SUBMIT WITH ITS REPORTS LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS AS
IT DEEMS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth  day  after  it  shall
have  become  a  law  and shall expire twenty-four months after it shall
have become a law when upon such date the provisions of this  act  shall
be deemed repealed.

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Senate Bill S6919

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Sponsored By

Martin J. Golden