UPDATE 4/9/24: Passed Senate and referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee.
UPDATE 4/14/23: A hearing has just been scheduled for Monday, April 17 at 12:30. Location: Capitol Building room 123 CAP, State St. and, Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12224
Senate Bill 6211 makes some changes to the “wild animal” law in New York. It is sponsored by Senator Monica R. Martinez with Senator Andrew Gounardes as a co-sponsor. The was referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee. You can find the Committee members at https://www.nysenate.gov/committees/environmental-conservation.
What it does:
- Changes “wild animal” to “wild or exotic animal.”
- Adds this definition for wild animal: “Wild animal” means indigenous, non-domesticated animals native to the country in which they live.
- Adds this term and definition: “Exotic animal” means a wild animal with an origin of a different continent.
- Adds the below species to the state ban list:
(7) Macropodidae including but not limited to kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, wallaroos, pademelons and quokkas,
(8) Cetacea (including whales and dolphins),
(9) Elephantidae (elephants),
(10) Hyaenidae (hyenas),
(11) Perissodactyla (including rhinoceroses, tapirs and zebras),
(12) Pinnipedia (including seals, sea lions and walruses),
(13) Struthio (ostriches),
(14) Casuariiformes (including cassowaries and emus), and
(15) Xenarthra (including sloths, anteaters and armadillos).
Find all bill details and full text at https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/s6211. NOTE: The text in ALL CAPS is the new text and the rest is current law.
