Assembly Bill A1987

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Provides for the humane removal of downed animals

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2025-A1987 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Agriculture
Law Section:
Agriculture and Markets Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §96-g, add §96-k, Ag & Mkts L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: A4513
2011-2012: A1725
2013-2014: A724
2015-2016: A893
2017-2018: A4893
2019-2020: A1241
2021-2022: A2313
2023-2024: A726

2025-A1987 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides for the humane treatment and removal of downed animals.

2025-A1987 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1987
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 14, 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  downed
   animals
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Section 96-g of the agriculture and markets law is  amended
 by adding a new subdivision 18 to read as follows:
   18.  "DOWNED ANIMAL" MEANS ANY LIVE SPECIES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS OR
 SWINE THAT IS UNABLE TO STAND AND WALK UNASSISTED.
   § 2. The agriculture and markets  law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 96-k to read as follows:
   §  96-K.  DOWNED  ANIMALS.  1.  NO  SLAUGHTERHOUSE, STOCKYARD, AUCTION
 MARKET AGENCY, OR DEALER SHALL BUY, SELL, OR RECEIVE A DOWNED ANIMAL  OR
 PRODUCTS OF DOWNED ANIMALS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
   2.  NO  SLAUGHTERHOUSE,  STOCKYARD,  AUCTION  MARKET AGENCY, OR DEALER
 SHALL HOLD A DOWNED ANIMAL WITHOUT TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION  TO  HUMANELY
 EUTHANIZE  THE  ANIMAL,  OR  HUMANELY  REMOVE  THE ANIMAL FOR VETERINARY
 TREATMENT.
   3. WHILE IN TRANSIT OR ON THE PREMISES OF A SLAUGHTERHOUSE, STOCKYARD,
 AUCTION MARKET AGENCY, OR DEALER, A DOWNED ANIMAL SHALL NOT  BE  DRAGGED
 AT  ANY  TIME,  OR PUSHED WITH EQUIPMENT AT ANY TIME, BUT SHALL BE MOVED
 WITH A SLING OR ON A STONEBOAT OR BY OTHER SLED-LIKE OR WHEELED  CONVEY-
 ANCE.
   4.  AS USED IN THIS SECTION (A) "HUMANELY EUTHANIZED" MEANS TO KILL BY
 CHEMICAL METHOD OR A PENETRATING CAPTIVE BOLT TO THE FRONTAL PART OF THE
 BRAIN THAT RAPIDLY AND EFFECTIVELY RENDERS  THE  ANIMAL  INSENSITIVE  TO
 PAIN.    CHEMICAL  METHODS  ARE  TO BE RESTRICTED SOLELY TO THE USE OF A
 PENTOBARBITAL SOLUTION IN A CONCENTRATION DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE AN IMMEDI-
 ATE AND PAINLESS DEATH; AND (B) "HUMANELY REMOVE" MEANS MOVING A  DOWNED
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05176-01-5
 A. 1987                             2

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