S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    181
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ROSENTHAL  --  read once and referred to the
   Committee on Agriculture
 
 AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation  to  estab-
   lishing  a  task force on animal laws; and providing for the repeal of
   such provisions upon expiration thereof

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
 section 386 to read as follows:
   § 386. TASK FORCE ON ANIMAL LAWS. 1. THE TASK FORCE ON  THE  STATE  OF
 ANIMAL LAWS IS HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE, EVALUATE
 AND DETERMINE HOW TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANIMALS AND HUMANS
 AND THE ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS.
   2. (A) SUCH TASK FORCE SHALL CONSIST OF FIFTEEN MEMBERS, EACH TO SERVE
 FOR  A  TERM  OF ONE CALENDAR YEAR.   SUCH MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED AS
 FOLLOWS:  TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF
 THE  SENATE; ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE
 SENATE; TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF  THE  ASSEMBLY;
 ONE  MEMBER  SHALL  BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY;
 ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; THE  COMMISSIONER
 OR  SUCH  COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE; THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION OR SUCH COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE; THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER  OF  HEALTH  OR SUCH COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE; THE COMMISSIONER OF
 THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES OR SUCH COMMISSIONER'S  DESIG-
 NEE;  AND  THE  REMAINING  MEMBERS  SHALL  BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
 APPOINTMENTS SHALL BE MADE WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF
 THIS  SECTION. VACANCIES IN THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE FILLED IN THE MANNER
 PROVIDED FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.
   (B) ALL APPOINTEES SHALL  HAVE  EXPERTISE  IN  FIELDS  OR  DISCIPLINES
 RELATED  TO  ANIMALS,  ANIMAL ABUSE AND/OR INVESTIGATIONS INCLUDING, BUT
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD01003-01-5
 A. 181                              2
 
 NOT LIMITED TO,  THE  FOLLOWING  AREAS:  ANIMAL  AGRICULTURE;  COMPANION
 ANIMALS,  WILDLIFE  AND  WILD  ANIMAL  PROTECTION  INCLUDING SHELTERING,
 RESCUE AND ADOPTION OF COMPANION ANIMALS;  ANIMAL  LAW  ENFORCEMENT  AND
 CRIMINAL  DEFENSE;  AND  ANIMAL HEALTH AND VETERINARY MEDICAL CARE.  ALL
 APPOINTMENTS SHALL BE COORDINATED TO  ENSURE  GEOGRAPHIC  REPRESENTATION
 FROM  THE ENTIRE STATE.
   (C) THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER OR SELECTED BY
 THE COMMISSIONER FROM THE APPOINTED MEMBERS.  THE TASK FORCE SHALL ELECT
 A  VICE-CHAIR  AND  OTHER  NECESSARY  OFFICERS  FROM AMONG ALL APPOINTED
 MEMBERS.
   (D) A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE THEN IN  OFFICE  SHALL
 CONSTITUTE  A  QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS OR THE EXERCISE OF
 ANY POWER OR FUNCTION OF THE TASK FORCE. AN ACT, DETERMINATION OR  DECI-
 SION  OF  THE  MAJORITY  OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT DURING THE PRESENCE OF A
 QUORUM SHALL BE HELD TO BE THE ACT, DETERMINATION, OR  DECISION  OF  THE
 TASK FORCE.
   (E)  THE  TASK  FORCE SHALL MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY AT THE CALL OF THE
 CHAIR. MEETINGS MAY BE HELD VIA TELECONFERENCE. SPECIAL MEETINGS MAY  BE
 CALLED  BY  THE CHAIR AT THE REQUEST OF A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
 TASK FORCE.
   (F) MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR  THEIR
 SERVICES  BUT  SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR ACTUAL EXPENSES INCURRED IN
 THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES IN THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE.
   3. THE TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED SHALL:
   (A) STUDY LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS  GOVERNING  ANIMALS,  INCLUDING
 BUT NOT LIMITED TO COMPANION ANIMALS, FARM ANIMALS OR ANIMALS RAISED FOR
 FOOD  PRODUCING  PURPOSES,  WILDLIFE  AND ANIMALS USED IN ENTERTAINMENT,
 RESEARCH OR EXPERIMENTATION OR ANY OTHER  FIELD THAT GOVERNS THE USE  OR
 TREATMENT OF ANIMALS;
   (B)  STUDY  LAWS,  RULES,  AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OPERATIONS OF
 DULY INCORPORATED SOCIETIES FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY, DULY INCORPO-
 RATED HUMANE SOCIETIES, POUNDS, SHELTERS, MUNICIPAL  OR  OTHERWISE,  AND
 PET DEALERS; AND
   (C)  RECOMMEND  WAYS  BY WHICH TO MODERNIZE THE LAWS GOVERNING ANIMALS
 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE TASK FORCE SHALL NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO  MAKE
 RECOMMENDATIONS   CONCERNING  THE  FOLLOWING:  STATEWIDE  STANDARDS  FOR
 SERVICE, THERAPY, GUIDE, HEARING OR ASSISTANCE ANIMALS, LAWS THAT  WOULD
 LIMIT  THE  RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WITH RESPECT TO SERVICE,
 THERAPY, GUIDE, HEARING OR ASSISTANCE ANIMALS, AND LAWS THAT WOULD LIMIT
 THE RIGHTS OF TRAINERS OF SERVICE, THERAPY, GUIDE, HEARING OR ASSISTANCE
 ANIMALS.
   4. THE TASK FORCE MAY ESTABLISH SUCH ADVISORY COMMITTEES AS  IT  DEEMS
 APPROPRIATE  ON  MATTERS  RELATING TO THE TASK FORCE'S FUNCTIONS, POWERS
 AND DUTIES. SUCH COMMITTEES SHALL BE CHAIRED BY A TASK FORCE MEMBER, BUT
 MAY BE COMPOSED OF TASK FORCE  MEMBERS  AS  WELL  AS  OTHER  INDIVIDUALS
 SELECTED  BY THE TASK FORCE TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE OF INTEREST SPECIFIC TO
 THE CHARGE OF SUCH COMMITTEE.
   5. THE TASK FORCE MAY, AS IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE, REQUEST THAT  STUDIES,
 SURVEYS,  OR  ANALYSES RELATING TO THE TASK FORCE'S POWERS AND DUTIES BE
 PERFORMED BY ANY STATE DEPARTMENT, COMMISSION, AGENCY OR PUBLIC AUTHORI-
 TY. ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSIONS, AGENCIES OR  PUBLIC  AUTHORITIES
 SHALL  PROVIDE  INFORMATION  AND ADVICE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND OTHERWISE
 ASSIST THE TASK FORCE WITH ITS WORK.
   6.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE STAFF SERVICES TO THE TASK FORCE  AND
 SUCH  OTHER  ADMINISTRATIVE  ASSISTANCE AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE TASK
 FORCE TO CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS.
 A. 181                              3
 
   7. THE TASK FORCE SHALL HOLD A MINIMUM OF THREE PUBLIC  HEARINGS:  ONE
 IN  NEW  YORK  CITY; ONE IN WESTERN NEW YORK; AND ONE IN UPSTATE EASTERN
 NEW YORK. THE TASK FORCE MAY HOLD ADDITIONAL PUBLIC  HEARINGS  IN  OTHER
 LOCATIONS AS IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
   8.  THE TASK FORCE SHALL MAKE A PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND
 THE LEGISLATURE OF ITS FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIV-
 ITIES ALREADY UNDERTAKEN BY THE TASK FORCE,  NOT  LATER  THAN  ONE  YEAR
 AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS SECTION, AND A FINAL REPORT OF ITS
 FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIVITIES ALREADY UNDERTAKEN
 BY THE TASK FORCE, NOT LATER THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE  OF
 THIS  SECTION AND SHALL SUBMIT WITH ITS REPORTS LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS AS
 IT DEEMS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth  day  after  it  shall
 have  become  a  law  and shall expire twenty-four months after it shall
 have become a law when upon such date the provisions of this  act  shall
 be deemed repealed.