A01555 Text:

                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K

       ________________________________________________________________________

                                         1555

                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y

                                   January 12, 2015

                                      ___________

       Introduced  by  M.  of A. PAULIN, ENGLEBRIGHT, ROBERTS, MOSLEY, PERRY --

         Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred  to

         the Committee on Agriculture

       AN  ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to prohib-

         iting cruel treatment of elephants

         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-

       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

    1    Section  1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new

    2  section 380 to read as follows:

    3    S 380. CRUELTY TO ELEPHANTS. 1. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO

    4  COMMIT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ACTS ON OR TO AN ELEPHANT:

    5    (A) USING A BULLHOOK, ANKUS, OR SIMILAR DEVICE;

    6    (B) USING ELECTRICITY OR ANY SHOCKING DEVICE;

    7    (C) USING MARTINGALES, WHIP, OR BLOCK AND TACKLE;

    8    (D) HITTING, BEATING, PUNCHING, KICKING, OR ENGAGING IN ANY OTHER  ACT

    9  WHICH COULD CAUSE PAIN OR INJURY;

   10    (E) INSERTING ANY INSTRUMENT INTO ANY BODILY ORIFICE;

   11    (F)  USING  CHAINS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESTRAINING OR TYING DOWN EXCEPT

   12  FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY;

   13    (G) DEPRIVING OF ADEQUATE FOOD, WATER, OR REST; OR

   14    (H) COMMITTING ANY OTHER PRACTICES WHICH ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURY OR

   15  DEATH TO AN ELEPHANT.

   16    2. NO PERSON SHALL POSSESS ANY DEVICE WHICH EMITS AN ELECTRIC  CURRENT

   17  OR  SHOCK  OR ANY INSTRUMENT THAT MAY REASONABLY RESULT IN DAMAGE, SCAR-

   18  RING OR BREAKAGE TO THE SKIN OF  AN  ELEPHANT  IN  THE  PRESENCE  OF  AN

   19  ELEPHANT. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, SUCH IMPLEMENT OR DEVICE

   20  INCLUDES,  BUT  IS  NOT  LIMITED TO, A BULLHOOK, ANKUS, OR OTHER SIMILAR

   21  DEVICE.

   22    3. ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE A CLASS E FELONY.

        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                                  LBD01386-01-5

       A. 1555                             2

    1    4. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE  CONSTRUED  TO  AFFECT  ANY  OTHER

    2  PROTECTIONS  AFFORDED  TO  ELEPHANTS  UNDER  ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS

    3  CHAPTER OR ANY OTHER LAW.

    4    5.  NOTHING  CONTAINED  IN  THIS SECTION SHALL PREVENT ANY TOWN, CITY,

    5  VILLAGE, OR COUNTY IN THE STATE FROM ENACTING A LOCAL LAW  OR  ORDINANCE

    6  GOVERNING  OR  RESTRICTING  THE USE OF ELEPHANTS WITHIN SUCH TOWN, CITY,

    7  VILLAGE, OR COUNTY PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT  NO  SUCH  LAW  OR  ORDINANCE

    8  SHALL BE LESS STRINGENT THAN THIS SECTION.

    9    6.  NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT A VETERINA-

   10  RIAN FROM PERFORMING NECESSARY TREATMENT ON AN ELEPHANT.

   11    S 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall

   12  have become a law.