A 3158: Requires the court to require a mental health evaluation when a person is convicted of certain crimes pertaining to animal fighting and aggravated cruelty to animals; requires the convicted person to assume the costs of any evaluation and continued therapy; makes related provisions.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 3158 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY January 23, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to requir- ing the court to require a mental health evaluation when a person is convicted of certain crimes pertaining to animal fighting and aggra- vated cruelty to animals The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 351 of the agriculture and markets law is amended 2 by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows: 3 7. The court shall order any person convicted of this section to 4 receive a mental health evaluation by a licensed psychologist or thera- 5 pist named by the court, and subsequent mental health counseling, if 6 warranted by the evaluation, for a period of time to be prescribed by 7 the licensed psychologist or therapist. The cost of the mental health 8 evaluation and any required mental health counseling shall be paid by 9 such convicted person. The court shall order such person to submit the 10 results of the mental health evaluation to the court, and if subsequent 11 counseling is ordered, the court may order such person to provide 12 documentation of attendance to the court. 13 § 2. Section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law is amended by 14 adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows: 15 4. The court shall order any person convicted of this section to 16 receive a mental health evaluation by a licensed psychologist or thera- 17 pist named by the court, and subsequent mental health counseling, if 18 warranted by the evaluation, for a period of time to be prescribed by 19 the licensed psychologist or therapist. The cost of the mental health 20 evaluation and any required mental health counseling shall be paid by 21 such convicted person. The court shall order such person to submit the 22 results of the mental health evaluation to the court, and if subsequent EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD06339-01-5 
 A. 3158 2 1 counseling is ordered, the court may order such person to provide 2 documentation of attendance to the court. 3 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 4 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend- 5 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen- 6 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and 7 completed on or before such effective date.