{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "242.15", "citation": "Penal Law § 242.15", "heading": "Harming a service animal in the first degree", "text": ["§ 242.15 Harming a service animal in the first degree.", "A person is guilty of harming a service animal in the first degree when, he or she commits the crime of harming a service animal in the second degree, and has been convicted of harming a service animal in the first or second degree within the prior five years.", "Harming a service animal in the first degree is a class E felony."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/242.15", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "Committing second-degree harm to a service animal after a **first- or second-degree service-animal-harm conviction within the prior 5 years** is first-degree harm to a service animal, a **class E felony**. ★", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/242.15", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}