STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6459
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 5, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. TANNOUSIS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to penal-
ties for intent to cause injury to an animal
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 353-a of the agriculture and
2 markets law, as added by chapter 118 of the laws of 1999, is amended to
3 read as follows:
4 1. A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when[,]: (a)
5 with no justifiable purpose, [he or she] such person intentionally kills
6 or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal
7 with aggravated cruelty or (b) under circumstances evincing a depraved
8 indifference to the life of an animal, such person recklessly engages in
9 conduct which creates a grave risk of serious physical injury or death
10 to the animal, and thereby causes serious physical injury or death to
11 such animal. For purposes of this section, "aggravated cruelty" shall
12 mean conduct which: (i) is intended to cause extreme physical pain; or
13 (ii) is done or carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic
14 manner.
15 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07513-01-5
