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A01923 Summary:

BILL NOA01923
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORRosenthal
 
COSPNSRGlick, Gonzalez-Rojas, Bores, Epstein, Hevesi, Simon, Simone, Colton
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §399-bbbb, Gen Bus L
 
Relates to prohibitions on fur products; prohibits the manufacture, sale, display for sale, trade, giving, donating, or otherwise distributing of a fur product by any means in the state beginning twenty-four months after this act becomes a law.
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A01923 Actions:

BILL NOA01923
 
01/14/2025referred to economic development
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A01923 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A1923
 
SPONSOR: Rosenthal
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the general business law, in relation to the prohibition on fur products   PURPOSE:: This bill would phase out the sale and distribution of fur products in New York State.   SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:: Section one amends the general business law by adding a new section 399-bbbb. Section two establishes the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION:: Fur farms across the United States raise animals like raccoons, foxes, minks, and chinchillas to kill for their fur, often using cruel and inhumane methods. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that over 100 million animals are killed each year for the fur industry. As animal cruelty laws have progressed, more and more people have chosen to stop supporting the fur industry and turn to faux-fur products or other alternatives. Major luxury fashion brands such as Coach, Versace, Burberry and Michael Kors have recently announced plans to become fur- free, while some retailers and magazines have also announced they will no longer carry or feature clothing and accessories using animal fur. Countries such as Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have banned the sale of fur products, while a few U.S. cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco have also taken the step. While the popularity of wearing fur has decreased, many retailers still sell fur products, keeping cruel fur farms in business. This legislation would phase out the sale and distribution of any new fur products in New York State within two years.   LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:: 2023-24: A.790 - Referred to Economic Development; S.3279 - Referred to Consumer Protection 2021-22: A.703 - Referred to Economic Development 2019-20: A.5040-B - Referred to Economic Development   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:: Undetermined.   EFFECTIVE DATE:: This act shall take effect immediately.
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A01923 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          1923
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    January 14, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, GLICK, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, BORES, EPSTEIN,
          HEVESI, SIMON, SIMONE, COLTON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Economic Development
 
        AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the prohibition
          on fur products
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
     2  399-bbbb to read as follows:
     3    § 399-bbbb. Prohibition on fur products. 1. Notwithstanding any  other
     4  law,  rule  or  regulation to the contrary, beginning twenty-four months
     5  after this section takes effect, it shall be unlawful to sell, offer for
     6  sale, display for sale, trade, give, donate, or otherwise  distribute  a
     7  fur product by any means in the state.
     8    2.  Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary,
     9  beginning twenty-four months after this section takes effect,  it  shall
    10  be unlawful to manufacture a fur product in the state.
    11    3.  Subdivision one of this section shall not apply to the sale, offer
    12  for sale, display for sale, trade, gift, donation, or other distribution
    13  of used fur products by a person not normally engaged in the business of
    14  selling fur products, non-profit  organization,  or  second-hand  stores
    15  including pawn shops.
    16    4.  Subdivision two of this section shall not apply to the manufacture
    17  of any fur product using fur sourced exclusively from used fur products.
    18    5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions one and two of  this
    19  section, the manufacture and sale of fur products shall not be prohibit-
    20  ed  when  such manufacture and sale is for the exclusive distribution to
    21  and use by persons who purchase such products in order to conform to  or
    22  comply with a religious or cultural practice.
    23    6.  The  fine  for  a  violation  of  this section shall be up to five
    24  hundred dollars for a first violation; up to seven hundred fifty dollars
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05288-01-5

        A. 1923                             2
 
     1  for a second violation; and up to one thousand dollars  for  each  addi-
     2  tional  violation.  Each  fur  product  that  does  not  comply with the
     3  provisions of this section shall constitute a separate violation.  Costs
     4  and fees may be recovered, including attorneys' fees.
     5    7. For purposes of this section:
     6    (a)  "Fur" means any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or
     7  fur fibers attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state. "Fur"
     8  does not include such skins or parts thereof as are to be converted into
     9  leather, which in processing will have the hair, fleece,  or  fur  fiber
    10  completely  removed;  cowhide with hair attached thereto; or lambskin or
    11  sheepskin with fleece attached thereto.
    12    (b) "Fur product" means any article of clothing or  covering  for  any
    13  part of the body, or any fashion accessory, including but not limited to
    14  handbags,  shoes,  slippers,  hats,  earmuffs,  scarves, shawls, gloves,
    15  jewelry, and key chains, that is made in whole or in part of fur.
    16    (c) "Used fur product" means a fur product that a person has  acquired
    17  for such person's own use and worn.
    18    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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