See additional bills introduced by New Jersey Legislators below.  Stay tuned for in depth analysis of some of these bills.

Senate Bill No. 332

TITLE: Creates fencing crime involving stolen domestic companion animals.

Primary Sponsor(s): Scutari, Nicholas P.

Statement:

This bill would create a specific crime for fencing involving a stolen domestic companion animal. A person would be guilty of such an act, referred to in the bill as “dealing in stolen domestic companion animals,” if the person “traffics in, or initiates, organizes, plans, finances, directs, manages or supervises trafficking in stolen property consisting of a domestic companion animal.”

Unlike the existing crime of dealing in stolen property, graded anywhere from a disorderly persons offense up to a second degree crime based upon the value of the property involved, fencing involving a stolen domestic companion animal would be graded as a crime of the third degree. This grading of the new fencing crime corresponds to the third degree grading of theft of a domestic companion animal as currently established under the law. See N.J.S.2C:20-2, subsection b. Punishment for a third degree crime could include a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.

 

Senate Bill No. 323

TITLE: Requires liability insurance for permit to possess certain dangerous animals.

Primary Sponsor(s): Scutari, Nicholas P., Lesniak, Raymond J.

Statement:

This bill requires every applicant for a permit to possess a live potentially dangerous indigenous animal or a live potentially dangerous exotic animal to obtain and provide proof of liability insurance in an amount of not less than $250,000 for each potentially dangerous animal prior to the issuance of the permit.

 

Senate Bill No. 717

TITLE: Authorizes placement of involved animal with animal welfare agency or similar entity pending adjudication of alleged animal cruelty violation when not adjudicated in seven days.

Primary Sponsor(s): Cruz-Perez, Nilsa

Statement:

This bill provides for an animal welfare organization, animal rescue organization, or operator of a foster home or shelter to take custody of an animal confiscated from its owner and being held pending adjudication of an alleged animal cruelty violation.

Senate Bill No. 462

TITLE: Establishes Animal Cruelty Offender Registry; prohibits purchase, adoption, and breeding of animals by animal cruelty offenders.

Primary Sponsor(s): Sacco, Nicholas J., Greenstein, Linda R.

Statement:

This bill would provide for the establishment and implementation of an animal cruelty offender registry that would require the continuing registration of animal cruelty offenders and allow for the public disclosure of certain information pertaining to those offenders.

Senate Bill No. 698

TITLE: Authorizes seizure and impoundment of a dog believed to have attacked, severely injured, or killed another domestic animal.

Primary Sponsor(s): Gordon, Robert M.

Statement:

This bill authorizes the seizure and impoundment of a dog that attacks another domestic animal and severely injures or kills the attacked domestic animal.  “Domestic animal” is defined under the law as any cat, dog, or livestock other than poultry.  The bill also clarifies current law concerning hearings for the seized and impounded dogs to reflect this provision.

Senate Bill No. 529

TITLE: Requires mental health evaluation for all animal cruelty offenders; designated as “Shyanne’s Law.” Primary Sponsor(s): Beck, Jennifer,Vitale, Joseph F., Co-Sponsor(s): Bateman, Christopher

Statement:

This bill amends current law to require a mental health evaluation for any animal cruelty offender, whether an adult or a juvenile, to be followed by mental health counseling if warranted by the evaluation.  It is designated “Shyanne’s Law” in recognition of Shyanne, a dog that died in the care of an animal behaviorist who had been previously observed abusing an animal.

Senate Bill No. 461

TITLE: Changes law governing certain certified animal control officers.

Primary Sponsor(s): Sacco, Nicholas J.,Greenstein, Linda R.

Statement:

This bill makes changes to the law governing certain certified animal control officers.

 

Senate Bill No. 213

TITLE: Establishes NJ Animal Abuser Registry.

Primary Sponsor(s): Holzapfel, James W., Co-Sponsor(s): Bateman, Christopher

Statement:

This bill would provide for the establishment and implementation of an animal abuser registry system that would require the continuing registration of animal abuse offenders and allow for the public disclosure of certain information pertaining to those offenders.