Provides for the registration and regulation of pet groomers; establishes standards of care, training and testing; provides such applicant must be at least eighteen years of age.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6963
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 27, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. LANZA, MURRAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the registra-
tion and regulation of pet groomers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new article
2 29-CCC to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 29-CCC
4 REGISTRATION AND REGULATION OF PET GROOMERS
5 Section 539. Definitions.
6 540. Standard of care.
7 541. Record keeping.
8 542. Certificate of registration.
9 543. Certificate of registration refusal, suspension or revoca-
10 tion.
11 544. Inspections.
12 545. Violations.
13 § 539. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
14 have the following meanings:
15 1. "Pet" means an animal as defined by subdivision five of section
16 three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law.
17 2. "Registered pet groomer" means an individual, registered as a pet
18 groomer who bathes, brushes, dries, clips or styles a pet for financial
19 remuneration.
20 3. "Pet groomer" means an individual, working under the supervision of
21 a registered pet groomer at the grooming facility.
22 4. "Pet grooming facility" means a business permanently operating in
23 New York state, including mobile facilities, where a pet may be bathed,
24 dried, brushed, clipped or styled, and (i) pet grooming is the estab-
25 lishment's predominant source of sales, or (ii) pet grooming services
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11089-01-5
S. 6963 2
1 are offered within a retail store. A pet grooming facility shall not
2 include any self-service pet grooming facilities, including but not
3 limited to businesses such as car wash facilities where pet grooming is
4 ancillary to the primary business of the facility or businesses that
5 provide customers with pet grooming equipment and/or supplies for
6 customers to use to groom their own personal pets and employees at such
7 self-service pet grooming facilities only provide assistance demonstrat-
8 ing how to operate equipment properly and safely. If a self-service pet
9 grooming facility also offers pet grooming services, then such facility
10 shall be considered a pet grooming facility and a registered pet groomer
11 would be required to be on premises. For purposes of this section,
12 locations used for temporary events, such as pet shows and exhibitions,
13 are not considered a pet grooming facility. Further, a pet grooming
14 facility shall not include a home-based breeder as defined by paragraph
15 (a) of subdivision four of section four hundred of the agriculture and
16 markets law.
17 § 540. Standard of care. 1. The primary concern of every person regis-
18 tered pursuant to this article, and those working under the supervision
19 of such person, shall be the safety and well-being of the pet in their
20 care. No pet shall be left unaccompanied while restrained or unres-
21 trained on a grooming table, in a bathing area or in a dryer. Pets shall
22 be cared for according to the minimum standards of subdivisions one,
23 two, three and four of section four hundred one of the agriculture and
24 markets law, and any other sections of the agriculture and markets law
25 relating to the care of pets.
26 2. Every pet grooming facility where pets are groomed shall display
27 contact information for the secretary of state and a copy of their
28 certificate of registration as required by section five hundred forty-
29 two of this article.
30 § 541. Record keeping. 1. Each pet groomer shall keep and maintain
31 records regarding each animal cared for and the owner thereof. Such
32 records shall include the name, contact number, and address of the
33 owner, the services provided, and the date such services were provided.
34 Further, each pet grooming facility shall request from pet owners proof
35 of annual vaccinations and a record of any known medical issues, condi-
36 tions or injuries for each pet groomed.
37 2. Records for each animal shall be maintained for a minimum period of
38 one year from the date of service. During normal business hours, such
39 records shall be made available to persons authorized by law to enforce
40 the provisions of this article.
41 § 542. Certificate of registration. 1. Any person intending to own or
42 operate a pet grooming facility as defined in this article shall hold a
43 certificate of registration issued by the secretary of state as required
44 by this article.
45 2. The secretary of state, in cooperation and consultation with the
46 department of agriculture and markets, shall establish a training
47 program for applicants interested in obtaining such registration. The
48 objectives of the training shall be to ensure the applicants have suffi-
49 cient skills to safeguard the health and safety of the animal. The
50 training shall be available through an educational course or program
51 developed by the department and/or offered through a groomer certif-
52 ication school, organization or program approved by the department.
53 Such educational training programs or courses shall, at a minimum,
54 include basic health, safety, animal first aid, best sanitation prac-
55 tices and general care and grooming for animals. Such training shall
S. 6963 3
1 also be available online by the state or an organization approved by the
2 secretary of state.
3 3. The secretary of state shall create and maintain an online roster
4 of registrants. Such record shall include disciplinary action, suspen-
5 sion of registration and revocation.
6 4. No individual shall be permitted to register as a pet groomer
7 unless such applicant is at least eighteen years of age.
8 5. (a) If the applicant provides the necessary business information
9 and has completed the training and received a certificate, then the
10 secretary of state shall issue such applicant a certificate of registra-
11 tion as a registered pet groomer upon payment of a forty dollar annual
12 registration fee. At minimum, each registrant shall provide:
13 (i) the name of the pet grooming facility;
14 (ii) the principal address, contact number, and names of all the
15 owners of the business;
16 (iii) evidence of appropriate training, such as: (1) having been in
17 the field of pet grooming either as an apprentice program or from a
18 school or institution approved by the department and that provides an
19 organization instruction in pet grooming; or (2) has successfully
20 completed a grooming certification course through a professional pet
21 groomers and stylists alliance compliant membership organization in good
22 standing at the time of completion and such program is approved by the
23 department; and
24 (iv) any other information that the department deems necessary and
25 appropriate.
26 (b) Individuals currently engaged in pet grooming on the effective
27 date of this article may apply for a certificate of registration by
28 providing:
29 (i) payment of the same registration fee as required in paragraph (a)
30 of this subdivision;
31 (ii) the name of the pet grooming facility;
32 (iii) the principal address, contact number, and names of all the
33 owners of the business;
34 (iv) evidence of completion of a training program approved by the
35 department; and
36 (v) any other information that the department deems necessary and
37 appropriate.
38 (c) The department shall provide each pet grooming facility which has
39 complied with the registration requirements as provided for in this
40 article with a certificate of registration and an identification card or
41 certificate, which shall have an identification number and expiration
42 date.
43 6. A registered pet groomer may employ individuals, under their direct
44 supervision. A registered pet groomer must be on premises at all times
45 that a pet is being actively groomed. The grooming facility shall
46 display in a conspicuous place in such facility the certificate of
47 registration.
48 § 543. Certificate of registration refusal, suspension or revocation.
49 1. The secretary of state may decline to grant or renew, or may suspend
50 or revoke a pet groomer's certificate of registration for a false state-
51 ment as to a material matter in the application for such certificate of
52 registration, for persistent improper record keeping or business prac-
53 tices, or for a violation of any provision of this law or any law relat-
54 ing to the humane treatment of animals.
55 2. The secretary of state shall conduct a hearing before revoking or
56 suspending any certificate of registration or before issuing any order
S. 6963 4
1 directing the cessation of unauthorized activities. At least ten days
2 prior to the date set for the hearing, the holder of such certificate of
3 registration shall be notified in writing, or the person alleged to have
4 engaged in unauthorized activities, of any charges made and shall afford
5 such person an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel in refer-
6 ence hereto. The hearing on such charges shall be at such time and
7 place as the department shall prescribe. Any pet grooming facility or
8 pet groomer whose certificate of registration is revoked, denied, or
9 suspended may reapply after re-taking a training course as approved by
10 the department as well as demonstrate to the secretary of state their
11 ability to provide for the humane and appropriate care and safety of
12 pets in their care.
13 3. Any action of the secretary of state pursuant to this section shall
14 be subject to judicial review in a proceeding pursuant to article seven-
15 ty-eight of the civil practice law and rules.
16 § 544. Inspections. The secretary of state or such secretary's author-
17 ized agents shall be authorized to jointly coordinate with the commis-
18 sioner of agriculture and markets or such commissioner's authorized
19 agents to inspect pet grooming facilities to ensure compliance with the
20 provisions of this article or if a complaint warrants such inspection.
21 Nothing herein shall limit the ability of the department of agriculture
22 and markets to enforce the provisions of the agriculture and markets law
23 as applicable to such facility. Authority to conduct such inspections
24 to enforce the provisions of this article and report thereon may be
25 delegated by the secretary of state to a municipality.
26 § 545. Violations. 1. In addition to denial, revocation, suspension or
27 refusal of renewal of a certificate of registration, as otherwise
28 provided in this article, any violation of a provision of this article
29 is a civil offense, for which a penalty of not less than one hundred
30 dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for each violation may be
31 imposed, provided however for violations not affecting the health and
32 safety of a person or a pet at the pet grooming facility, the secretary
33 of state may allow for a cure period or other opportunity for ameliora-
34 tive action, the successful completion of which will prevent the imposi-
35 tion of penalties on the party or parties subject to enforcement. The
36 secretary of state shall implement an appeals process for such regis-
37 tered pet groomer who wishes to contest the imposition of a penalty
38 related to a civil offense.
39 2. The provisions of this article may be concurrently enforced by the
40 secretary of state and by any municipality to which the secretary of
41 state has delegated authority. Moneys collected thereunder shall be
42 retained by the local municipality.
43 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit or restrict any
44 municipality with a population of one million or more from enacting or
45 enforcing a local law, rule, regulation or ordinance governing pet
46 groomers, provided however, that any such local law, rule, regulation,
47 or ordinance shall be no less stringent than the applicable provisions
48 of this article.
49 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
50 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
51 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
52 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
53 completed on or before such effective date.
