New York Assembly Bill A00041 Latest Draft

   
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 41 2023-2024 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 4, 2023 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab- lishing animals as sentient beings The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new 2 section 385 to read as follows: 3 § 385. Animals as sentient beings. The Legislature finds and declares 4 that animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, stress, 5 and fear. It is the policy of New York that, in order to protect animals 6 from experiencing pain, stress, or fear at human hands, animals are to 7 be treated humanely. For that reason, animals shall be considered the 8 victims of animal cruelty crimes and shall be treated as such in a court 9 of law. 10 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01350-01-3