BILL NUMBER: S5654
SPONSOR: MURRAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in regard to enhancing
penalties for aggravated animal abuse; and to amend the criminal proce-
dure law, in relation to allowing aggravated animal abuse to be consid-
ered for bail
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Sections 1 and 2 of the bill amends sections 353 and 353-a of the agri-
culture and markets law to elevate torturing, or unjustifiably injuring,
an animal from a class a misdemeanor to aggravated cruelty to animals, a
felony.
Section 2 of the bill also amends section 353-a of the agricultural and
markets law to include persons who abuse an animal while released on
recognizance for violating any order of protection under the definition
of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the bill amends the criminal procedure law to
make aggravated cruelty to animals bail-eligible.
Section 6 provides an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill seeks to more appropriately align the penalties for aggravated
animal abuse with the seriousness of the crime. Respect for the dignity
of animals certainly justifies a felony charge for unjustifiably kill-
ing, maiming, or violently injuring them.
In addition, the bill broadens the definition of aggravated animal abuse
to include individuals who commit animal abuse while on recognizance for
violating an order of protection. All too often, violence towards
animals presages violence towards humans. Individuals who violate an
order of protection have already demonstrated a disregard for the law
and the security of others. Abusing an animal while on recognizance for
violating a protection order is a serious escalation of unlawful behav-
ior that should be addressed with more severe criminal penalties.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:.
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.

Statutes affected:
S5654: 353-a agriculture and markets law, 353-a(1) agriculture and markets law