Assembly Bill A5542

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Prohibits the issuance of permits authorizing the use of wild animals in circuses or traveling animal acts

download bill text pdf

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Archive: Last Bill Status - On Floor Calendar

  • 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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2021-A5542 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S4840
Law Section:
Environmental Conservation Law
Laws Affected:
Add §11-0541, En Con L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2017-2018: A8157, S7718
2019-2020: A3673, S5408
2023-2024: A4005, S4363
2025-2026: A5850, S3629

2021-A5542 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits the issuance of permits authorizing the use of wild animals in circuses or traveling animal acts; excepts a wildlife sanctuary and a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

2021-A5542 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5542
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 19, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, L. ROSENTHAL, GLICK, COLTON, GOTT-
   FRIED, SCHMITT, HEVESI, EPSTEIN, LAVINE, PAULIN, QUART --  Multi-Spon-
   sored by -- M. of A.  SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Environmental Conservation
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  environmental  conservation law, in relation to
   prohibiting the issuance  of  permits  authorizing  the  use  of  wild
   animals in circuses or traveling animal acts
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by  adding  a
 new section 11-0541 to read as follows:
 § 11-0541. PROHIBITION ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS AUTHORIZING THE USE OF
              WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES OR TRAVELING ANIMAL ACTS.
   1.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT ISSUE A PERMIT OR LICENSE, INCLUDING, BUT
 NOT LIMITED TO, AN EDUCATION OR EXHIBITION PERMIT OR  AN  ENDANGERED  OR
 THREATENED  SPECIES LICENSE, AUTHORIZING THE EXHIBITION OF A WILD ANIMAL
 IN A CIRCUS NOTWITHSTANDING A VALID UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL-
 TURE LICENSE, OR A TRAVELING ANIMAL ACT.
   2. SUCH A PROHIBITION SHALL NOT APPLY TO:
   A. A FACILITY ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS;
   B. A WILDLIFE SANCTUARY.
   3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE
 FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "TRAVELING ANIMAL ACT" SHALL MEAN ANY PERFORMANCE OF WILD  ANIMALS
 WHERE  SUCH  ANIMALS  ARE TRANSPORTED TO, FROM, OR BETWEEN LOCATIONS FOR
 THE PURPOSE OF SUCH PERFORMANCE; AND
   (B) "PERFORMANCE" SHALL MEAN ANY EXHIBITION OR PUBLIC SHOWING IN WHICH
 WILD ANIMALS ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM TRICKS, GIVE RIDES, OR  PARTICIPATE
 AS ACCOMPANIMENTS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT, AMUSEMENT, OR BENEFIT OF A LIVE
 AUDIENCE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect December 31, 2022.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

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