NY Asse mbly & Senate Judiciary Committees:
Three troublesome bills are currently pending in their respective Judiciary Committees:
· Assembly Bill 25/ Senate Bill 3027 - This bill, similar to measures seen in other states, would appoint a special advocate in any legal proceedings regarding animal welfare “to represent the interests of justice”. This advocate would essentially be perceived to be representing the interests of the animal. The Department of Agriculture and Markets would be required to maintain a list of attorneys “with knowledge of animal issues and the legal system”, and also a list of law schools that have, or anticipate having, students “with an interest in animal issues and the legal system.” Those on this list would serve the court on a voluntary basis.
· Assembly Bill 1113 – This bill would require that if a person unjustifiably causes the death or injury of a companion animal, they are liable not just for the monetary value of the animal (in the case of the animal dying) or of the medical care required (if injured), but also for damages “for the loss of the reasonably expected society, companionship, comfort, protection, and services”. Such damages are traditionally not permitted under the law in cases dealing with property. Its companion Senate Bill 3414 is pending in the Senate Domestic Animal Welfare Committee (See the Assembly Agriculture/Senate Domestic Welfare Committee section of the alert for contact information for this committee). Click here to read more about non-economic damages.
These bills contain premises which could influence the legal status of animals, ownership issues, decisions regarding legal rights and care of animals, and many other concerns. AKC opposes any measure that changes the legal status of animals. Visit AKC’s key issues page for more information on our position regarding the legal status of animals.
Contact information: Assembly Judiciary Committee: Scroll down for Senate Judiciary
If you are a constituent or participate in events in their district, be sure to mention that when contacting the committee members.
Jeffrey Dinowitz, Chair (Bronx) District Office: 718-796-5345 Albany Office: 518-455-5965 [email protected]
Thomas J. Abinanti (Tarrytown) District Office: 914-631-1605 Albany Office: 518-455-5753 [email protected]
Edward C. Braunstein (Bayside) District Office: 718-357-3588 Albany Office: 518-455-5425 [email protected]
David Buchwald (Mount Kisco) District Office: 914-244-4450 Albany Office: 518-455-5397 [email protected]
Marjorie Byrnes (Pittsford) District Office: 585-218-0038 Albany Office: 518-455-5662 [email protected]
Andy Goodell District Office: 716-664-7773 Albany Office: 518-455-4511 [email protected]
Latoya Joyner (Bronx) District Office: 718-538-2000 Albany Office: 518-455-5671 [email protected]
Charles D. Lavine (Glen Cove) District Office: 516-676-0050 Albany Office: 518-455-5456 [email protected]
Michael Montesano (Hicksville) District Office: 516-937-3571 Albany Office: 518-455-4684 [email protected]
Michael J. Norris (Clarence) District Office: 716-839-4691 Albany Office: 518-455-4601 [email protected]
Anthony H. Palumbo (Riverhead) District Office: 631-727-0204 Albany Office: 518-455-5294 [email protected]
Dan Quart (New York) District Office: 212-605-0937 Albany Office: 518-455-4794 [email protected]
Rebecca A. Seawright (New York) District Office: 212-288-4607 Albany Office: 212-288-4607 [email protected]
Aravella Simotas (Astoria) District Office: 718-545-3889 Albany Office: 518-455-5014 [email protected]
Phil Steck (Schenectady) District Office: 518-377-0902 Albany Office: 518-455-5931 [email protected]
Michele R. Titus (Far Rockaway) District Office: 718-327-1845 Albany Office: 518-455-5668 [email protected]
Monica P. Wallace (Cheektowaga) District Office: 716-686-0080 Albany Office: 518-455-5921 [email protected]
Mary Beth Walsh (Ballston Spa) District Office: 518-884-8010 Albany Office: 518-455-5772 [email protected]
David I. Weprin (Fresh Meadows) District Office: 718-454-3027 Albany Office: 518-455-5806 [email protected]
Tremaine Wright (Brooklyn) District Office: 718-399-7630 Albany Office: 518-455-5474 [email protected]
Kenneth Zebrowski (New City) District Office: 845-634-9791 Albany Office: 518-455-5735 [email protected]
Contact information for the Senate Judiciary Committee:
Brad Hoylman, Chair (Manhattan) District Office: (212) 633-8052 Albany Office: (518) 455-2451 Email: [email protected]
Thomas F. O’Mara, Ranking Member (Elmira) District Office: 607-735-9671 Albany Office: 518-455-2091 Email: [email protected]
Jamaal T. Bailey (Bronx) District Office: 718-547-8854 Albany Office: 518-455-2061 Email: [email protected]
Phil Boyle (Bay Shore) District Office: (631) 665-2311 Albany Office: (518) 455-3411 Email: [email protected]
Neil Breslin (Albany) Albany Office: (518) 455-2225 Email: [email protected]
Andrew Gounardes (Bay Ridge) District Office: (718) 238-6044 Albany Office: (518) 455-3270 Email: [email protected]
Anna M. Kaplan (Great Neck) District Office: (516) 746-5924 Albany Office: (518) 455-2170 Email: [email protected]
Andrew J. Lanza (Staten Island) District Office: (718) 984-4073 Albany Office: (518) 455-3215 Email: [email protected]
Kenneth P. LaValle (Mount Sinai) District Office: (631) 473-1461 Albany Office: (518) 455-3121 Email: [email protected]
Zellnor Myrie (Brooklyn) District Office: 718-284-4700 Albany Office: 518-455-2410 Email: [email protected]
Michael H. Ranzenhofer (Williamsville) District Office: (716) 631-8695 / (585) 454-0322 Albany Office: (518) 455-3161 Email: [email protected]
Diane J. Savino (Staten Island and Brooklyn) District Office (Staten Island): (718) 727-9406 District Office (Brooklyn): (718) 333-0311 Albany Office: 518-455-2437 Email: [email protected]
Luis R. Sepulveda (Bronx) District Office: 718-991-3161 Albany Office: 518-455-2511 Email: [email protected]
Toby Ann Stavisky (Flushing) District Office: (718) 445-0004 Albany Office: (518) 455-3461 Email: [email protected]
Kevin Thomas (Garden City) District Office: (516) 739-1700 Albany Office: (518) 455-3260 Email: [email protected]