Wednesday, November 11, 2015
On Monday, November 16, 2015, two committees of the New Jersey Assembly will consider bills pertaining to dogs and sales regulations. The bills include:
- AB 2524 / SB 1877 – These companion bills provide that any person with disabilities accompanied by a guide or service dog, or any guide or service dog trainer so accompanied, when riding on any bus, train, or other form of transportation operated by New Jersey Transit may keep such dog, appropriately controlled, in the person’s immediate custody. The bills also prohibit New Jersey Transit from denying to any person use of or entry to any vehicle used for public transportation services or used for providing transportation to persons with disabilities because the person is accompanied by an appropriately controlled guide or service dog. The bills also require New Jersey Transit to create mechanisms by which customers can enter complaints for non-accommodation and provide passengers notice of complaint procedures.
Based on the AKC Board-approved Use of Working, Assistance and Service Dogs canine legislation position statement, the AKC supports both bills. These bills will be heard by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, on Monday, November 16, 2015, at 10AM, in Committee Room 11 (4th Floor) of the State House Annex in Trenton. All dog owners in support of the legislation are strongly encouraged to contact the committee members prior to their meeting and urge support of AB 2524 and SB 1877.
Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski, Chairman — AsmWisniewski@njleg.org
Assemblywoman Linda Stender, Vice Chair — AswStender@njleg.org
Assemblywoman Marlene Caride — AswCaride@njleg.org
Assemblyman Robert D. Clifton — Asmclifton@njleg.org
Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce — AswDeCroce@njleg.org
Assemblyman Carmelo G. Garcia — AsmGarcia@njleg.org
Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin — AsmGiblin@njleg.org
Assemblyman Charles Mainor — AsmMainor@njleg.org
Assemblyman Paul D. Moriarty — AsmMoriarty@njleg.org
Assemblywoman Sheila Y. Oliver — AswOliver@njleg.org
Assemblyman Scott T. Rumana — Asmrumana@njleg.org
Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf — Asmrumpf@njleg.org
- AB 2152 – If enacted, this bill will increase penalties for pet shop owners or operators found to be in violation of certain pet shop laws and regulations, from a range of $5-$50 to a range of $100-$1,000 for each violation. The violations subject to increased penalties include pet shop licensing requirements, improperly permitting dogs off pet shop premises, and interfering with enforcement officials performing oversight duties.
This bill will be heard by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee at its meeting on Monday, November 16, 2015. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 2PM in Committee Room 15 (4th Floor) of the State House Annex in Trenton. Those wishing to express an opinion regarding this bill are encouraged to contact the committee members prior to their meeting.
Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak, Chair — AsmAndrzejczak@njleg.org
Assemblyman Gilbert L. “Whip” Wilson, Vice Chair — AsmWilson@njleg.org
Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer — Asmdancer@njleg.org
Assemblyman Parker Space — Asmspace@njleg.org
Assemblyman Adam J. Taliaferro — AsmTaliaferro@njleg.org
For more information on these bills or other pending issues in New Jersey, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or email doglaw@akc.org.
On Monday, November 16, 2015, two committees of the New Jersey Assembly will consider bills pertaining to dogs and sales regulations.