Bill > A02194

This bill establishes a statewide animal abuser registry that requires individuals convicted of serious animal cruelty offenses to register with local county sheriffs and be tracked for 15 years. Specifically, any person over 18 who has been convicted of a felony animal protection offense must register within 10 days of being in the state, providing detailed personal information including name, address, employment, and conviction details. The sheriff will collect photographs, fingerprints, and physical descriptions of the registrant. Each county sheriff must maintain a local registry and forward information to the state's criminal justice services division, which will create a public central registry accessible online, by phone, in writing, and in person. Within 10 days of an animal abuser's registration, the sheriff must notify all residences, schools, humane societies, animal shelters, and businesses within a half-mile radius of the abuser's location. Failing to register or providing false information is a class E felony. The registry aims to protect communities by providing transparency about individuals with a history of animal abuse, with the exception of protecting the registrant's social security number from public disclosure.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2194