STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1743
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- 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 the
powers of peace officers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 371 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended
2 by chapter 573 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 371. Powers of peace officers. A constable or police officer [must]
4 shall, and any agent or officer of any duly incorporated society for the
5 prevention of cruelty to animals [may] shall issue an appearance ticket
6 pursuant to section 150.20 of the criminal procedure law, summon or
7 arrest, and bring before a court or magistrate having jurisdiction, any
8 person offending against any of the provisions of this article [twenty-
9 six of the agriculture and markets law]. Any officer or agent of any of
10 [said] such societies [may] shall lawfully interfere to prevent the
11 perpetration of any act of cruelty upon any animal in [his] such offi-
12 cer's or agent's presence. Any of [said] such societies [may] shall
13 prefer a complaint before any court, tribunal or magistrate having
14 jurisdiction, for the violation of any law relating to or affecting
15 animals and [may] shall aid in presenting the law and facts before such
16 court, tribunal or magistrate in any proceeding taken.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
18 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05314-01-5