S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1507
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- 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 includ-
ing reckless operation of a motor vehicle resulting in the death or
serious injury of a companion animal as aggravated animal cruelty
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 353-a of the agriculture and
markets law, as added by chapter 118 of the laws of 1999, is amended to
read as follows:
1. A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no
justifiable purpose, [he or she] SUCH PERSON: (A) intentionally kills or
intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal with
aggravated cruelty. For purposes of this section, "aggravated cruelty"
shall mean conduct which: (i) is intended to cause extreme physical
pain; or (ii) is done or carried out in an especially depraved or sadis-
tic manner; OR
(B) CAUSES THE DEATH OR CAUSES SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY TO A COMPANION
ANIMAL WHILE RECKLESSLY OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04393-01-5