Bill > A00640

This bill establishes a new Special Advocates for Animal Welfare Program in the New York state judiciary law, which allows courts to appoint a special advocate to represent the interests of an animal in civil or criminal proceedings involving animal welfare. The advocate, who will be selected from a list maintained by the chief judge and can be an attorney or supervised law student, will have several key responsibilities: monitoring the case, accessing relevant files and documents, reviewing records about the animal's condition, sharing information with attorneys, and presenting recommendations to the court that relate to the animal's interests. The advocate may consult individuals with relevant information, attend hearings, and provide victim impact statements, but will not have discovery or subpoena powers. The program is designed to ensure an animal's well-being is represented during legal proceedings, with advocates working on a voluntary basis and law students being supervised according to existing legal regulations. The bill will take effect 180 days after becoming law, providing time for the court administration to develop the list of potential advocates and implement the program.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A640