Prohibits the issuance of permits authorizing the use of wild animals in circuses or traveling animal acts; excepts a wildlife sanctuary and a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4840--B
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 16, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. BIAGGI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the issuance of permits authorizing the use of wild
animals in circuses or traveling animal acts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a
2 new section 11-0541 to read as follows:
3 § 11-0541. Prohibition on the issuance of permits authorizing the use of
4 wild animals in circuses or traveling animal acts.
5 1. The department shall not issue a permit or license, including, but
6 not limited to, an education or exhibition permit or an endangered or
7 threatened species license, authorizing the exhibition of a wild animal
8 in a circus notwithstanding a valid United States department of agricul-
9 ture license, or a traveling animal act.
10 2. Such a prohibition shall not apply to:
11 a. a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums;
12 b. a wildlife sanctuary.
13 3. For the purposes of this section the following terms shall have the
14 following meanings:
15 (a) "traveling animal act" shall mean any performance of wild animals
16 where such animals are transported to, from, or between locations for
17 the purpose of such performance; and
18 (b) "performance" shall mean any exhibition or public showing in which
19 wild animals are required to perform tricks, give rides, or participate
20 as accompaniments for the entertainment, amusement, or benefit of a live
21 audience.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect December 31, 2022.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08321-06-1
