New York Assembly Bill A10942

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/14/26
• Refer: 4/14/26

Caption

Requires the municipal police training council establish a use of force policy for companion animals

Summary

This bill would amend the New York Executive Law to require the Municipal Police Training Council to establish and regularly update a model law enforcement use-of-force policy for encounters with companion animals. The policy must address understanding animal behavior, tactical considerations and best practices during encounters, and safe handling of, and appropriate use of force against, companion animals. The bill defines “companion animal” to include dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals normally kept in or near the household, but excludes farm animals as defined in the Agriculture and Markets Law. The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would add a new duty to the Municipal Police Training Council under Executive Law section 840, requiring it to create and maintain statewide model guidance for police interactions with companion animals. This would affect law enforcement training and operational policies across municipalities, while leaving the underlying definition of farm animals unchanged and carving them out from the bill’s scope.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and animal-welfare training bill with a straightforward policy purpose. The proposal is limited in scope and does not appear to have generated documented controversy in the available materials.

Contention

No committee transcript or vote record is available, so no specific objections or amendments can be identified from the provided context. The only notable policy boundary in the text is the exclusion of farm animals from the definition of companion animal, which suggests the bill is intended to focus on household pets and similar domesticated animals rather than livestock or agricultural settings.