Relates to the creation of a crime database of all convictions in New York state of animal cruelty, fighting, neglect, abandonment and mistreatment; makes such crime database available to all law enforcement entities, district attorneys, duly incorporated humane societies, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, dog or cat protective associations and animal control officers.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A399
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the creation of an
animal cruelty and animal fighting database
PURPOSE::
This bill will require the establishment and maintenance of a database
for the collection and analysis of information relating to crimes
against animals. The information contained in this database would be
available to various law enforcement and humanitarian agencies.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS::
Section one identifies the legislative intent and findings.
Section two amends the executive law by adding section 8374. Section
three sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION::
Since the 1970s, the FBI has linked the repeated instance of animal
killing and torture with its-analysis of the lives of serial killers.
Studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology have further demon-
strated that violent offenders often have childhood and adolescent
histories of repeated and serious animal abuse. Other research has shown
consistent patterns of animal cruelty among the perpetrators of other
forms of violence such as child abuse, spouse abuse, and elder abuse.
Because the American Psychiatric Association considers animal cruelty
one of the diagnostic criteria of conduct disorder, creating a database
to analyses the incidence of animal cruelty will provide a valuable
resource for law enforcement officials who seek to establish a link
between animal cruelty and related crimes.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
2021-22: A.1549 - Referred to Agriculture; S.5156 - Referred to Codes
2019-20: A.1090 - Reported to Codes; 5.2602 - Referred to Domestic
Animal Welfare
2017-18: A.317 - Reported to Codes; S.2558 - Referred to Finance
2015-16: A.343 - Reported to Codes; S.6812 - Referred to Finance
2013-14: A.239-A - Reported to Codes
2011-12: A.1766-A - Reported to Codes
2009-10: A.6684-A - Reported to Codes; S.8433 - Referred to Rules
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This bill shall take effect twelve months after it shall have become a
law provided that, effective immediately, the division of criminal
justice services shall promulgate rules and regulations as it deems
necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, on or before such
effective date.
