S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6821
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 25, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. GIANARIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing veterina-
rians to provide free veterinary care services to individuals in shel-
ters to receive mandatory continuing education credit
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 6704-a of the
education law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (iii) to read as
follows:
(III) SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL COURSEWORK MAY INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF FREE
VETERINARY CARE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING TEMPORARY HOUSING
ASSISTANCE, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, A FAMILY SHELTER,
A SHELTER FOR ADULTS, A HOTEL PROVIDING TEMPORARY EMERGENCY SHELTER, AN
EMERGENCY APARTMENT, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER, A RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS
YOUTH SHELTER, OR A SAFE HOUSE FOR REFUGEES, PROVIDED THAT SUCH SERVICES
BE ADMINISTERED AT PRACTICES, FACILITIES AND PROPERTIES THAT ARE APPRO-
PRIATELY EQUIPPED AND STAFFED TO PROVIDE SUCH SERVICES. THE DEPARTMENT
MAY OFFSET UP TO THREE HOURS OF THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF HOURS OF CONTIN-
UING EDUCATION REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH, AT A RATE OF ONE-
HALF OF ONE HOUR OF CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR EACH HOUR OF FREE VETERI-
NARY CARE SERVICES.
§ 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.
LBD00740-01-5