STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6601 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY March 14, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. LUPARDO, MOSLEY, BLAKE, ZEBROWSKI, McDONALD, MONTESANO, MORINELLO, D'URSO -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Agriculture AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to requir- ing the commissioner of agriculture and markets to identify and devel- op standards for therapy dogs The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 124 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended 2 by section 22 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, is amended to 3 read as follows: 4 § 124. Powers of commissioner. The commissioner is hereby authorized 5 to: 6 1. (a) promulgate, after public hearing, such rules and regulations as 7 are necessary to supplement and give full effect to the provisions of 8 sections one hundred thirteen, one hundred fourteen and one hundred 9 seventeen of this article; and 10 (b) exercise all other powers and functions as are necessary to carry 11 out the duties and purposes set forth in sections one hundred thirteen, 12 one hundred fourteen and one hundred seventeen of this article. 13 2. in cooperation with other relevant state agencies and stakeholders 14 identify, and develop as necessary, guidance for therapy dogs, their 15 handlers and facilities using such dogs, including, but not limited to, 16 assessment and training, risk management, animal welfare, and best prac- 17 tices for such dogs and their dog-handlers. Such guidance shall be made 18 available on the department's website and provided to municipalities 19 that issue special tags for therapy dogs pursuant to section one hundred 20 eleven of this article. 21 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD10601-01-9