A03736 Summary:

BILL NO    A03736 

SAME AS    Same as S 3178

SPONSOR    Glick (MS)

COSPNSR    

MLTSPNSR   Dinowitz, Farrell, Gottfried, McEneny, Millman, Pheffer

Add S380, Ag & Mkts L

Prohibits any person from slaughtering a horse where such person knows or has
reason to know that such horse will be used for human consumption; and
prohibits any person from selling, bartering, giving away, purchasing,
possessing, transporting, delivering or receiving horseflesh where such person
knows or should know that such horseflesh is intended for human consumption;
and provides penalties for violation.

A03736 Actions:

BILL NO    A03736 

01/28/2009 referred to agriculture
01/06/2010 referred to agriculture

A03736 Votes:

A03736 Memo:

 BILL NUMBER:  A3736

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in
relation to prohibiting the slaughtering of horses for human
consumption

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL : To amend the agriculture and
markets law by adding a new section 380, to prohibit the slaughtering
of horses for human consumption.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS : The agriculture and markets law
shall be amended by adding a new section 380. This section will make
it unlawful to slaughter a horse for human consumption. It shall be
unlawful to purchase, trade, offer, import or export a horse or horse
flesh, in any way with the intent of it being slaughtered for human
consumption. The term horse, includes all members of the equine
family, including horses, ponies, donkeys, mules, asses, and burros.
The term horse flesh means any part of the horse's body. A violation
of this law will be a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not
more than one year or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars
or by both.

 JUSTIFICATION : More than 49,000 horses were slaughtered in the
United States in 2003, according to the U.S.  Department of
Agriculture, an alarming 16% increase over the previous year. The vast
majority of these horses are being slaughtered for human consumption
abroad. The number of American horses going to slaughter has increased
significantly given European and Japanese concerns about mad cow
disease and the subsequent desire to find "safer" sources of meat.

Pet horses, work horses, racehorses and even wild horses go to
slaughter. Most arrive at the slaughterhouse via livestock auctions
where, often unknown to the seller, they are bought by middlemen
working for the slaughter plants. These so-called "killer buyers"
travel from one auction to the next collecting young, old, sick and
healthy animals until their trucks are full. Some are shipped for more
than 24 hours at a time without food, water or rest, and suffer
horribly along the way.

Callous treatment of horses at the slaughterhouse often results in
their prolonged suffering. Panicked horses are prodded and beaten off
the truck and into the kill-chute. The improper use of stunning
equipment, designed to render the animal unconscious with a swift shot
to the head, means that horses sometimes endure repeated blows and
remain conscious during their own slaughter. This bill would ensure
that such cruelty and blatant disregard of one of America's most
majestic and noble creatures will no longer be tolerated in New York
State.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :  2004: Referred to agriculture. 2005-06:
A.3484 Referred to Codes, passed Senate. 2007-2008; A2572 Referred to
Agriculture

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : None

 EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect on the one hundred
twentieth day after it shall have become a law.