Prohibits vivisection at colleges, universities, professional, proprietary or graduate schools in the state where a scientifically and educationally satisfactory method or strategy exists; defines vivisection to mean experimentation through surgery on a living organism to view living internal structure.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A226
SPONSOR: Rosenthal (MS) TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to
prohibiting vivisection at colleges and universities in the state where
a scientifically and educationally satisfactory method or strategy
exists
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:
This bill is designed to limit the use of unnecessary vivisection by
colleges and universities.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: the education law is amended by adding a new section 815.
Section 2: sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Formerly, instructors and administrators at medical colleges and univer-
sities commonly performed acts of vivisection on animals so that
students would be able to witness basic biological processes that are
similar to those which occur in humans. Now, however, computer programs
and simulators have been created which allow for repeated use and prac-
tice, and provide a more accurate depiction of human bodily functions.
Over the past decade, many of the nation's top medical schools have
ended the use of live animal vivisection due to technological advances
in teaching programs. Computer simulation is currently recognized by
medical schools and training facilities as being the superior method of
training doctors, nurses and other health professionals. Harvard, Stan-
ford and Yale have all deemed live animal laboratories as unnecessary
and ineffective for medical training. Currently in New York State,
twelve medical colleges and universities have already ceased vivisection
experiments.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.656 of 2013-2014;
A.7458 of 2011-2012
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act will take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
226
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
A. COLTON, COOK, HOOPER, McDONOUGH -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting vivisec-
tion at colleges and universities in the state where a scientifically
and educationally satisfactory method or strategy exists
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 817 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 817. Vivisection prohibited. 1. For purposes of this section:
4 (a) "Vivisection" means experimentation through surgery on a living
5 organism to view living internal structure.
6 (b) "Scientifically and educationally satisfactory method or strategy"
7 means a teaching method or strategy that accomplishes the goal of the
8 proposed education or training or teaching method or strategy that is
9 used by a majority of other institutions of higher education to accom-
10 plish the same goal.
11 2. Vivisection is prohibited at all colleges, universities, profes-
12 sional, proprietary or graduate schools in the state where an alterna-
13 tive scientifically and educationally satisfactory method or strategy
14 exists.
15 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
16 it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04000-01-5
