NY S00384

Removes torture, cruel beating, and unjustifiable injury from the list of acts that constitute the class A misdemeanor offense of animal abuse.

Requires courts to order immediate psychiatric analysis and evaluation for persons convicted of torturing, cruelly beating, or unjustifiably injuring animals, with mandatory treatment or programs to modify behavior or address mental illness.

Prohibits sealing or protecting court records of youthful offenders convicted under these animal abuse provisions, allowing such records to be used in any subsequent prosecution.

Preserves exemptions for lawful scientific research, hunting, trapping, fishing, farming operations, pest eradication, and dispatch of rabid or diseased animals.

Takes effect November 1st following enactment.