Prohibits the use of primates in entertainment acts; prohibits the department of environmental conservation for issuing any license or permit that would authorize the use of a primate in an entertainment act.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7624
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law and the environmental
conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the use of primates in
entertainment acts
PURPOSE:
This bill enacts the "Primate Protection Act" which prohibits the use of
many primates in any type of entertainment act.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one: Provides that this act shall be known as the "Primate
Protection Act."
Section two: Describes legislative findings.
Section three: Amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new
section 380-a, which provides that a person shall not conduct or operate
a display of primates in any type of entertainment act in the state.
This section also Provides that an entertainment act that fails to
comply with this section may be subject to a civil penalty. Exemptions
from the provisions of this section are set forth. This section also
provides definitions for "primate," "entertainment act," and "person."
Section four: Amends the environmental conservation law by adding a new
section 11-0540-a to provide that no license or permit shall be issued
for the purposes of using a primate in an entertainment act.
Section five: Provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Primates such as monkeys, apes, chimpanzees, and orangutans are highly
intelligent, social animals with complex emotional and cognitive needs.
Primates used in entertainment acts are often subjected to harsh train-
ing methods, confinement, and unnatural living conditions. These prac-
tices can cause severe physical and psychological harm to the animals.
Subjecting them to stressful and unnatural environments for the sake of
entertainment purposes is contrary to growing public opinion that humans
ought to promote animals' well-being.
Shifts in societal attitudes concerning captive primates are evidenced
by the now almost totally obsolete use of animals in events such as
circuses. Despite such progress, primates are still utilized in various
other entertainment acts, such the "Banana Derby," where monkeys are
trained to ride on the backs of dogs. Monkeys are typically dressed in
costumes, chained to their canine counterpart, and guided by trainers as
they ride the dogs around a track or perform various tricks and stunts,
usually organized as part of fairs, festivals, or other public gath-
erings.
The purpose of the Primate Protection Act is to safeguard all primates
from the physical and psychological harm inflicted upon them by living
conditions, treatment, and cruel methods that are necessary to train
them to perform in entertainment acts.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect two years after it has become a law.
Provided, however that effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and
directed to be completed on or before such date.
