http://assembly.state.ny.us/cgi-bin/claws?law=30&art=41

S 809. Instruction in the humane treatment of animals. 1. The officer,

board or commission authorized or required to prescribe courses of

instruction shall cause instruction to be given in every elementary

school under state control or supported wholly or partly by public money

of the state, in the humane treatment and protection of animals and the

importance of the part they play in the economy of nature as well as the

necessity of controlling the proliferation of animals which are subse-

quently abandoned and caused to suffer extreme cruelty. Such instruction

shall be for such period of time during each school year as the board of

regents may prescribe and may be joined with work in literature, read-

ing, language, nature study or ethnology. Such weekly instruction may be

divided into two or more periods. A school district shall not be enti-

tled to participate in the public school money on account of any school

or the attendance at any school subject to the provisions of this

section, if the instruction required hereby is not given therein.

2. Study and care of live animals. Any school which cares for or uses

animals for study shall ensure that each animal in such school be

afforded the following: appropriate quarters; sufficient space for the

normal behavior and postural requirements of the species; proper venti-

lation, lighting, and temperature control; adequate food and clean

drinking water; and quarters which shall be cleaned on a regular basis

and located in an area where undue stress and disturbance are minimized.

3. Application. The provisions of this section shall not be construed

to prohibit or constrain vocational instruction in the normal practice

of animal husbandry, or prohibit or constrain instruction in environ-

mental education activities as established by the department of environ-

mental conservation.

4. Dissection of animals. Any student expressing a moral or religious

objection to the performance or witnessing of the dissection of an

animal, either wholly or in part, shall be provided the opportunity to

undertake and complete an alternative project that shall be approved by

such student`s teacher; provided, however, that such objection is

substantiated in writing by the student`s parent or legal guardian.

Students who perform alternative projects who do not perform or witness

the dissection of animals shall not be penalized.

5. Treatment of live vertebrate animals. a. Except as provided for in

this subdivision, no school district, school principal, administrator,

or teacher shall require or permit the performance of a lesson or exper-

imental study on a live vertebrate animal in any such school or during

any activity conducted under the auspices of such school whether or not

the activity takes place on the premises of such school where such

lesson or experimental study employs: (i) micro-organisms which cause

disease in humans or animals, (ii) ionizing radiation, (iii) known

cancer producing agents, (iv) chemicals at toxic levels, (v) drugs

producing pain or deformity, (vi) severe extremes of temperature, (vii)

electric or other shock, (viii) excessive noise, (ix) noxious fumes, (x)

exercise to exhaustion, (xi) overcrowding, (xii) paralysis by muscle

relaxants or other means, (xiii) deprivation or excess of food, water or

other essential nutrients, (xiv) surgery or other invasive procedures,

(xv) other extreme stimuli, or (xvi) termination of life.

b. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this section, the

commissioner may, upon the submission of a written program plan, issue

to such school a written waiver of such restrictions for students

subject to the following provisions: (i) the student shall be in grade

ten, eleven, or twelve; and (ii) the student shall be under the super-

vision of one or more teachers certified in science; and (iii) the

student shall be pursuing an accelerated course of study in the sciences

as defined by the commissioner in preparation for taking a state or

national advanced placement examination. The commissioner shall issue a

waiver of such restrictions for any teacher certified in science

instructing such student. The written program plan shall include, but

not be limited to: (i) the educational basis for requesting a waiver;

(ii) the objective of the lesson or experiment; (iii) the methods and

techniques to be used; and (iv) any other information required by the

commissioner.