S00056 Text:

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

       ________________________________________________________________________

                                          56

                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                                   I N  S E N A T E

                                      (PREFILED)

                                    January 7, 2015

                                      ___________

       Introduced  by  Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when

         printed to be committed 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

       S. 56                               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.