Limits ownership or possession of companion animals by "Buster's Law" violators; adds definition of equine companion while taking horses out of farm animal definition.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1562
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to limiting
the ownership or possession of companion animals by persons convicted
of violating "Buster's Law"; and in relation to horses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law is amended
2 by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
3 4. On and after the effective date of this subdivision, no person who
4 is convicted of a violation of this section shall own or possess a
5 companion animal unless and until authorized by a court order issued by
6 a county court judge of the convicted person's county of residence. No
7 such order shall be issued until the convicted person first demonstrates
8 to the court that the convicted person has undergone psychiatric or
9 psychological testing, the results of which indicate by clear and
10 convincing evidence of such person's capable and sound mental capacity
11 and ability to own and properly care for such an animal in a humane
12 manner.
13 § 2. Subdivision 4 of section 350 of the agriculture and markets law,
14 as added by chapter 569 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as
15 follows:
16 4. "Farm animal", as used in this article, means any ungulate, poul-
17 try, species of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas[, horses] or fur-
18 bearing animals, as defined in section 11-1907 of the environmental
19 conservation law, which are raised for commercial or subsistence
20 purposes. Fur-bearing animal shall not include dogs or cats.
21 § 3. Section 350 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by
22 adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
23 6. "Equine companion", as used in this article, means any horse so
24 used for recreational pursuits, including but not limited to: racing,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03524-01-5
S. 1562 2
1 jumping, showing, rehabilitative purposes or otherwise treated in an
2 open and known fashion as a "companion animal" or "pet" as defined in
3 subdivision five of this section.
4 § 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
5 have become a law.
