NY S02019

Adds a new category of aggravated animal cruelty: committing a simple animal cruelty offense (Section 353) while having a prior conviction for the same offense within the past 10 years.

Establishes a tiered felony penalty structure: Class E felony for aggravated cruelty; Class D felony if defendant previously convicted of simple animal cruelty; Class C felony if defendant previously convicted of aggravated animal cruelty.

Removes the previous sentencing provision that capped imprisonment at two years and allowed for indefinite sentences under general penal law guidelines.

Maintains existing exemptions for lawful hunting, trapping, fishing, disease control, animal threat dispatch, and approved scientific research.