Agriculture

This bill exempts New York City from state regulations governing frozen desserts by adding a specific provision to the Agriculture and Markets Law. The key mechanism is a population threshold that removes cities with one million or more residents from the rules outlined in Article 4-A of the law. As a result, New York City would no longer be subject to the state's oversight on frozen dessert sales and distribution. The change takes effect immediately upon passage.

Requires the department of agriculture and markets to maintain a publicly available database of the results of its graded inspections on its website; requires the department to provide information as to where a customer may file a consumer report; requires the department to facilitate and coordinate the planning and implementation of an awareness and educational program to inform the general public on the standards retail food stores shall meet and how consumers may report retail food stores with poor sanitary conditions.

This bill prohibits individuals and organizations from giving away or exchanging live fish as prizes in games, contests, sweepstakes, or other promotions. It creates an exception for live animals, including fish, when they are distributed as part of a state-sanctioned cooperative extension education or agricultural vocational program. The law will take effect ninety days after it is signed into law, allowing time for necessary rules to be established.

Requires each violator of "Buster's Law" to register the violator's name and address with the division of criminal justice services; makes the registration available to the public, law enforcement entities, district attorneys, humane societies, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, dog or cat protective associations, animal control officers, breeders of animals, animal rescues and pet stores.

Clarifies the standard of care for animals held in or being transported by animal shelters including the length of time and conditions such animal may be exposed to.