Tomorrow, Thursday, October 9, 2014, the New Jersey Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will consider several bills that, if ultimately enacted, will impact dogs in the Garden State. AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) encourages all owners in New Jersey to review the bills detailed below and to express their opinions to the committee members.
Included on the agenda are the following dog-focused legislative proposals:
- Assembly Bill 201, as introduced and pending technical review by legislative counsel, would permit courts to issue animal protective orders against persons found guilty of abusing animals. Such persons may be required to refrain from interacting with an animal permanently or for a period of time specified by the court. The bill also provides that the subject of the protective order may be a specific animal or any other animal as deemed appropriate by a court. Violations of animal protection orders would result in a finding of guilt of a disorderly persons offense.
- As introduced, Assembly Bill 1023 authorizes temporary placement of an animal with animal welfare agency or similar entity pending a court’s resolution of an alleged animal cruelty violation when not adjudicated within seven days. The animal welfare agency or similar entity are mandated to properly house and care for the animal until adjudication of the alleged violation and final disposition of the animal is ordered by the court. Further, the bill requires that if an animal is placed in the custody of a shelter and remains there, it may not offer the animal for adoption or euthanize it until seven days after the final disposition of the animal by the court. The current version of AB 1023 is also pending technical review by legislative counsel.
- Assembly Bill 2938 permits municipalities without a public pound for the keeping for stray dogs and other domestic pets to contract with animal and humane societies which engage in animal foster care. Such organizations must not be organized for profit. This will be the first time the bill will be considered by a legislative committee.
- Assembly Bill 2961/Senate Bill 1341 supports legislation enacted in 2009 by establishing a penalty for failure to include a bittering agent in antifreeze. SB 1341 has already unanimously passed the Senate, while AB 2961 is under first committee consideration. The AKC supports both AB 2961 and SB 1341 as currently written.
- Assembly Bill 3381, as introduced, expands the animal cruelty statute to include theft or release of animals during burglary. The AKC supports AB 3381 as currently written.
- Assembly Bill 3502 exempts service dogs temporarily placed in foster homes as part of a formalized training to be guide, service, or hearing ear dogs from licensing and registration tag requirements. This will be the first time AB 3502 will be considered by a legislative committee.
Dog owners are encouraged to contact the members of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee to express any concerns they have with the bills the committee will consider tomorrow.
Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak, Chair
Phone: (609) 465-0700 (Cape May Court House)
Email: AsmAndrzejczak@njleg.org
Assemblyman Gilbert L. Wilson, Vice-Chair
Phone: (856) 547-4800 (Audubon)
Email: AsmWilson@njleg.org
Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer
Phone: (609) 758-0205 (Cream Ridge)
Email: asmdancer@njleg.org
Assemblywoman Celeste M. Riley
Phone: (856) 339-0808 (Salem)
Email: AswRiley@njleg.org
Assemblyman Parker Space
Phone: (973) 300-0200 (Sparta)
Email: asmspace@njleg.org
AKC GR provides daily status updates on pending federal and state legislation—click here to view. For more information on all legislation pending in Trenton, contact AKC GR at (919) 816-3720 or email doglaw@akc.org.
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 9, 2014, the New Jersey Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will consider…