NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8177
SPONSOR: Gonzalez-Rojas TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the administration of psychoactive drugs to an animal in a
zoo in certain situations
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to prohibit the use of psychoactive
drugs to force animals to procreate.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds amends the environmental conservation law by adding
section 11-0541, which prohibits the use of psychoactive drugs on
animals in zoos for the purposes of procreation.
Section 2 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Psychoactive drugs have been utilized on animals in captivity for a
variety of issues. The use of these drugs on animals can have negative
implications on their behavioral health despite the justification of
zookeepers. In June 2021, it was reported that Johari, a female gorilla
was dosed with Prozac for her to allow a male gorilla to mate with her.
While the need for animals to procreate in order to sustain the ongoing
survival of their species is well founded, this cannot come at the
expense of animals' overall health. This legislation would prohibit the
use of psychoactive drugs on animals in order to force them to procre-
ate.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8177
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
July 9, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the administration of psychoactive drugs to an animal in a
zoo in certain situations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a
2 new section 11-0541 to read as follows:
3 § 11-0541. Psychoactive drug administration to animals in a zoo.
4 1. A zoo shall not administer psychoactive drugs to an animal in its
5 care in order to allow another animal to procreate with such animal.
6 2. For the purposes of this section, a "zoo" means a facility where
7 non-native animals are housed, held, fed or provided for in any manner.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11832-01-1
