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A 11114

Relates to implementing a dangerous dog owner alert system

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Steck

Templeton’s Law creates a county-wide, GPS-linked public map of blocks with dangerous dog owners, based on convictions, relocations, or dog deaths.

REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
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Bill Summary · A 11114

Bill Summary: A 11114 (Templeton’s Law)

Jurisdiction: New York | Session: 2025-2026 | Introduced by: Assembly Member Steck | Co-sponsor: Phil Steck

Date Introduced: April 24, 2026

Purpose
- To establish a dangerous dog owner alert system and create a centralized process for notifying localities about residents who own dangerous dogs.
- The act is named “Templeton’s Law.”

Key Provisions

1) Creation of a county-wide dangerous dog owner alert web page
- Clerks: The clerk of each city, town, or village must provide necessary data to the county clerk where the municipality is located.
- County action: The county clerk must maintain a web page listing the block of all residences where dangerous dogs are kept within the municipality.
- Mapping: For each listed block, the page must include a link to a mapping service (GPS-based street maps and satellite imagery) of that block.
- Notifications: The county page must post notifications of blocks where a dog owner has been convicted of an offense involving a dangerous dog.
- Privacy/other information: The bill allows, but does not require, the use of additional identifying information (e.g., resident’s name, dog’s name) through other notification methods.

2) Notification requirements upon certain events
- Death of a dangerous dog: The dog owner must notify the municipality’s clerk, who then forwards the notice to the county clerk.
- Change of residence: The dog owner must notify both the municipality they are leaving and the municipality they are moving to that they own a dangerous dog and provide the owner’s address. Clerks forward these notifications to the relevant county clerk.

3) Effective date
- The act takes effect on the thirtieth day after it becomes law.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Local governments (cities, towns, villages): Responsible for providing necessary data to county clerks; must maintain local records of dangerous dog ownership events and ensure notifications flow up to the county level.
  • County governments: Responsible for maintaining a public web page that lists blocks with dangerous dog owners and provides GPS-enabled mapping links; handles notification aggregation.
  • Dangerous dog owners: Subject to new notification requirements when a dog owner’s dog is convicted, when relocating, or upon the dog’s death.
  • General public: Gains online access to a county-maintained map-based page showing blocks where dangerous dog owners reside, via linkable mapping services.

Procedural/Timeline Aspects

  • Data flow: Local clerks → County clerks → Public web page.
  • Trigger events requiring notification: Convictions involving dangerous dogs; death of a dangerous dog; change of address with a dangerous dog owner.
  • Timing: Notifications triggered by events occur after those events (death, conviction, or relocation). The act does not specify a granular deadline for posting notifications beyond the general flow; it specifies the sequencing of notifications and posting on the county page.
  • Effective date: 30 days after enactment.

Notes

  • The bill renumbers an existing subdivision and adds a new Subdivision 6 to § 209-cc of the General Municipal Law, renaming the existing Subdivision 6 to Subdivision 7.
  • It emphasizes transparency via a publicly accessible, GPS-enabled mapping page while preserving flexibility to use additional identifiers through other notification methods.

This summary focuses on substantive changes and practical effects, with the objective of informing readers about the purpose, mechanics, and potential impact of Templeton’s Law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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