NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8084

Current 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
May 15, 2025	referred to agriculture

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Agriculture
Law Section:: Agriculture and Markets Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§403 & 421, add §353-g, Ag & Mkts L

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes an animal abuser registry; requires background checks for pet store and animal shelter licenses.

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8084

SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing an animal abuser registry

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to protect animals and prevent cruelty by
establishing a publicly accessible Animal Abuser Registry in New York
State. This registry would list individuals convicted of certain animal
abuse crimes, helping law enforcement agencies, animal shelters, pet
stores, and breeders avoid transferring or selling animals to known
abusers.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 403 of the Agriculture and Markets Law by
adding a new subdivision 12 requiring license issuers to conduct back-
ground checks on all applicants and licensees against the newly estab-

lished animal abuser registry. Licenses may not be issued or renewed for
individuals listed in the registry.

Section 2 amends subdivision 3 of Section 403 to maintain the license
fee structure and thresholds for pet dealers but does not alter the fee
exception for those who sell fewer than 25 animals per year.

Section 3 amends subdivision 5 and adds a new subdivision 8 to Section
421 of the Agriculture and Markets Law to require background checks
against the animal abuser registry for animal shelter license applicants
and renewals, and prohibit licenses for individuals on the registry.

Section 4 adds a new Section 353-g to the Agriculture and Markets Law
establishing a publicly accessible statewide Animal Abuser Registry,
maintained by the Division of Criminal justice Services (DCJS).  Defines
who qualifies as an animal abuser, outlines mandatory registration
requirements and procedures, including annual renewals for up to seven
years or for life in cases of repeat offenses.  Specifies that failure
to comply is a class E felony. Mandates sheriff offices to publicize
registry access and to notify local animal-related businesses and organ-
izations of abuser registrations within a half-mile radius. Prohibits
the sale or transfer of animals to anyone listed on the registry.

Section 5 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This legislation aims to protect animals from known abusers by estab-
lishing a statewide Animal Abuser Registry and prohibiting individuals
listed on the registry from obtaining licenses to operate pet-related
businesses or shelters. Currently, New York does not mandate any back-
ground checks for individuals applying for a pet dealer or breeder
license. This glaring gap in oversight allows individuals with a history
of animal cruelty to continue operating legally within the system, often
without scrutiny.


This is not a hypothetical risk. In April 2025, the owner of a Bedford
jennel was arrested for animal cruelty for the second time, following an
investigation by the SPCA that uncovered severely neglected and
mistreated animals in her care.' Despite a prior conviction, she was
still able to continue operating a pet-related business underscoring the
system's current failure in preventing known abusers from reoffending.

In Westchester County, multiple disturbing cases have emerged in recent
years that underscore the urgent need for reform. In May 2025, a
75-year-old man from Bohemia, New York, was charged with 18 misdemeanor
counts of animal cruelty and neglect after authorities discovered nearly
100 cats in his home, including about two dozen dead kittens stored in a
freezer.' The Suffolk County SPCA reported that 69 surviving cats, many
suffering from serious medical conditions like respiratory infections
and eye diseases, were rescued from the severely unsanitary property.'

In a separate incident, a Port Chester man was arrested after SPCA
investigators reviewed a disturbing video showing him kicking a cat in
the face.' He was charged following an investigation by the SPCA's
Humane Law Enforcement Unit.. These cases are just a few examples of a
broader pattern in which individuals exploit lax oversight to profit
from breeding and selling animals, often at the animals' expense.

In 2019, Attorney General Letitia James reached a settlement with West-
chester Puppies & Kittens, a pet store accused of deceptive advertising
about the health and wellness of animals it sold. Despite marketing
claims, many of the animals had significant, untreated medical issues,
highlighting the consequences of weak enforcement and inadequate over-
sight in the animal sales industry.'

These cases reflect broader systemic failures. Without a registry or
required background checks, individuals with serious cruelty convictions
can continue to obtain licenses and operate unchecked.  Animal shelters,
breeders, and pet stores currently lack a central tool to vet prospec-
tive adopters, employees, or business partners, placing vulnerable
animals at continued risk.

In addition to safeguarding animal welfare, the legislation advances
public safety. Numerous studies demonstrate the strong correlation
between animal abuse and other forms of interpersonal violence, includ-
ing domestic violence and child abuse. A publicly accessible Animal
Abuser Registry will help prevent repeat offenses and provide transpar-
ency to communities, shelters, and enforcement agencies.  This bill also
empowers local stakeholders by requiring law enforcement to notify
animal-related businesses and facilities when a registered abuser
resides nearby. It closes critical loopholes and equips the state with
the tools needed to monitor and respond to cruelty effectively.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided, however, that the amendments to
subdivision 3 of section 403 of the agriculture and markets law made by
section two of this act and the amendments to section 421 of the agri-
culture and markets law made by section three of this act shall take
effect on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 683 of the
laws of 2022, takes effect.
1 https://www.lohud.com/story/
news/local/westchester/bedford/2024/07/18/be dford-ny-rescue-right-at-
northwind-ken nels-founder-arrested-for-animal-cruelty/74453643007/
https://apnews.com/article/cats-cruelty-arrest-new-york-
4120cd8a9bt80f6d4c996bd888c553b8
3 Id.
4 https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/port-chester/
2025/05/07/port-chester-ny-man-arrested-for-animal-
cruelty-after-injuring-cat-spca-westchester-says/83495208007/
5 https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2019/ attorney-general-james-
announces-settlement-westchester-pet-store-over -deceptive

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8084
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. HARCKHAM -- 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 an animal abuser registry
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 403 of the agriculture and markets law  is  amended
 by adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
   12.  THE  APPLICABLE LICENSE ISSUER PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 SECTION SHALL RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK AS PART OF  EVERY  APPLICATION  AND
 RENEWAL  AGAINST  THE  ANIMAL  ABUSER  REGISTRY  ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
 SECTION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE-G OF THIS CHAPTER AND SHALL NOT  ISSUE
 OR RENEW A LICENSE TO AN APPLICANT OR LICENSEE WHO IS ON SUCH REGISTRY.
   §  2. Subdivision 3 of section 403 of the agriculture and markets law,
 as amended by chapter 683 of the laws of 2022, is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   3. Each application for a license shall be accompanied by a nonrefund-
 able fee of one hundred fifty dollars, EXCEPT THAT THOSE PET DEALERS WHO
 ENGAGE IN THE SALE OF LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE ANIMALS IN A YEAR.
   §  3. Subdivision 5 of section 421 of the agriculture and markets law,
 as added by chapter 683 of the laws of 2022, is amended and a new subdi-
 vision 8 is added to read as follows:
   5. Such license shall be renewable annually, upon  the  payment  of  a
 nonrefundable fee of one hundred fifty dollars, EXCEPT THAT THOSE ANIMAL
 SHELTERS WHO ADOPT OUT LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE ANIMALS IN A YEAR.
   8.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  RUN  A BACKGROUND CHECK AS PART OF EVERY
 APPLICATION AND RENEWAL AGAINST THE ANIMAL ABUSER  REGISTRY  ESTABLISHED
 PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  THREE  HUNDRED  FIFTY-THREE-G OF THIS CHAPTER AND
 SHALL NOT ISSUE OR RENEW A LICENSE TO AN APPLICANT OR LICENSEE WHO IS ON
 SUCH REGISTRY.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11622-02-5
 S. 8084                             2

 
   § 4. The agriculture and markets  law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 353-g to read as follows:
   §  353-G. ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE
 TERM "ANIMAL ABUSER" MEANS A PERSON SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE  OR  OLDER  WHO
 HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION
 OF THIS ARTICLE OR OF THE COMPARABLE STATUTES OF ANOTHER STATE.
   2.  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL
 MAINTAIN A REGISTRY OF ANIMAL ABUSERS REQUIRED TO REGISTER  PURSUANT  TO
 THE  PROVISIONS  OF THIS SECTION. THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF ANIMAL ABUSERS
 SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH INTERNET ACCESS, TELEPHONE
 ACCESS, WRITTEN ACCESS AND IN-PERSON  ACCESS.  ALL  OF  THE  INFORMATION
 CONTAINED  IN  AN  ANIMAL ABUSER'S REGISTRATION SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE.
 RECORDS OF EACH ANIMAL ABUSER'S REGISTRATION SHALL BE MAINTAINED FOR THE
 DURATION OF THE PERIOD IN WHICH THE ANIMAL  ABUSER  IS  REQUIRED  TO  BE
 REGISTERED.
   3.  (A) A PERSON CONVICTED OF A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR VIOLATION OF ANY
 PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL REGISTER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL
 JUSTICE SERVICES WITHIN TEN DAYS OF THEIR RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION  OR
 ON THE DATE OF CONVICTION, WHICHEVER IS LATER.
   (B)  ANY  ANIMAL  ABUSER  WHO  ENTERS THE STATE AND PHYSICALLY REMAINS
 WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS STATE FOR MORE THAN TEN  CONSECUTIVE  DAYS
 SHALL  REGISTER  WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES BEFORE
 THE END OF THE ELEVENTH DAY IN THE STATE.
   4. ANY PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED ANIMAL ABUSER SHALL REREGISTER  NO  LATER
 THAN TEN DAYS AFTER MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION WITHIN THE STATE.
   5.  WHEN  AN  ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTERS, THE ANIMAL ABUSER SHALL PROVIDE
 THE FOLLOWING REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
   (A) THE LEGAL NAME AND ANY OTHER NAMES  OR  ALIASES  THAT  THE  ANIMAL
 ABUSER IS USING OR HAS USED;
   (B) THE DATE OF BIRTH OF THE ANIMAL ABUSER;
   (C) THE CURRENT ADDRESS OR LOCATION OF THE ANIMAL ABUSER;
   (D)  THE  ANIMAL  PROTECTION  OFFENSE  FOR WHICH THE ANIMAL ABUSER WAS
 CONVICTED, INCLUDING THE DATE AND PLACE OF SUCH CONVICTION; AND
   (E) A CURRENT PHOTOGRAPH OF THE ANIMAL ABUSER.
   6. FOLLOWING AN ANIMAL ABUSER'S INITIAL REGISTRATION PURSUANT  TO  THE
 PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  SECTION, AN ANIMAL ABUSER SHALL ANNUALLY RENEW THE
 ANIMAL ABUSER'S REGISTRATION WITH THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  CRIMINAL  JUSTICE
 SERVICES PRIOR TO DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST OF EACH SUBSEQUENT CALENDAR YEAR
 FOR  A PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS FROM THE ANIMAL ABUSER'S DATE OF CONVICTION
 OR RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION FOR THE UNDERLYING VIOLATION OF THIS ARTI-
 CLE, WHICHEVER IS LATER. AN ANIMAL ABUSER WHO IS CONVICTED OF  A  SUBSE-
 QUENT  FELONY  OR MISDEMEANOR VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE
 OR OF THE COMPARABLE STATUTES OF ANOTHER  STATE  SHALL  BE  REQUIRED  TO
 ANNUALLY  RENEW SUCH ANIMAL ABUSER'S REGISTRATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES PRIOR TO DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST OF EACH  SUBSE-
 QUENT CALENDAR YEAR FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
   7.  AN  ANIMAL  ABUSER  WHO INTENTIONALLY OR KNOWINGLY FAILS TO COMPLY
 WITH THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, OR PROVIDES FALSE  INFORMATION  WHEN
 COMPLYING  WITH THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION,
 IS GUILTY OF A CLASS E FELONY.
   8. EACH COUNTY SHERIFF SHALL PROVIDE LINKS TO REGISTER  WITH  OR  VIEW
 THE  DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES' REGISTRY OF ANIMAL ABUSERS
 ON THEIR PUBLIC WEBSITE.
   9.   WITHIN TEN DAYS OF  RECEIVING  INITIAL  OR  UPDATED  REGISTRATION
 INFORMATION  FROM  AN  ANIMAL ABUSER, THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
 SERVICES SHALL FORWARD SUCH INFORMATION TO THE APPLICABLE COUNTY SHERIFF
 S. 8084                             3
 
 WHO SHALL CONTACT EVERY HUMANE SOCIETY, ANIMAL  SHELTER,  LOCAL  SOCIETY
 FOR  THE  PREVENTION  OF  CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ORGANIZATION, AND ANY OTHER
 BUSINESS WITHIN A HALF MILE RADIUS OF THE ANIMAL ABUSER'S  RESIDENCE  OR
 LOCATION AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE ANIMAL ABUSER'S REGISTRATION INFORMA-
 TION.
   10. NO PERSON SHALL SELL, EXCHANGE, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF
 ANY  ANIMAL  TO  ANY  PERSON LISTED ON THE ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY ESTAB-
 LISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   § 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law; provided, however, that  the  amendments  to
 subdivision  3 of section 403 of the agriculture and markets law made by
 section two of this act and the amendments to section 421 of  the  agri-
 culture  and  markets  law  made by section three of this act shall take
 effect on the same date and in the same manner as  chapter  683  of  the
 laws of 2022, takes effect.  Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S8084

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Agriculture Committee

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S8084

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Sponsored By

Pete Harckham

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Agriculture Committee

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8084 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments