Bill Text: NJ A3156 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Creates crime of threatening the life of certain animals.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-07 - Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee [A3156 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2010-A3156-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 3156

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

214th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 13, 2010

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  PETER J. BIONDI

District 16 (Morris and Somerset)

Assemblywoman  DENISE M. COYLE

District 16 (Morris and Somerset)

Assemblyman  NELSON T. ALBANO

District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Prieto, DiMaio and Peterson

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Creates crime of threatening the life of certain animals.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee on March 7, 2011, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning threats against certain animals and amending P.L.1983, c.261.

 

      Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 1 of P.L.1983, c.261 (C.2C:29-3.1) is amended to read as follows:

     1.    a.  Any person who purposely kills a dog, horse or other animal owned or used by a law enforcement agency or a search and rescue dog shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

     b.    Any person who purposely maims or otherwise inflicts harm upon a dog, horse or other animal owned or used by a law enforcement agency or a search and rescue dog shall be guilty of a crime of the ¹[fourth] third¹ degree.

     c.     Any person who purposely ¹[taunts, torments, or threatens the life of] threatens to kill, maim or otherwise inflict harm upon¹ a dog, horse or other animal owned or used by a law enforcement agency or a search and rescue dog ¹, under circumstances reasonably causing the person to whom the threat is made to believe that it is likely that it will be carried out,¹ shall be guilty of a crime of the¹[fourth] third¹ degree.

     d.    Any person who interferes with any law enforcement officer using an animal in the performance of his official duties commits a disorderly persons offense, subject to a sentence of six months' imprisonment, some or all of which may be community service, restitution and a $1,000.00 fine.

     As used in this section, "search and rescue dog" means any dog trained or being trained for the purpose of search and rescue that is owned by an independent handler or member of a search and rescue team, and used in conjunction with local law enforcement or emergency services organizations for the purpose of locating missing persons or evidence of arson.

(cf: P.L.2005, c.24, s.1)

 

      2.   This act shall take effect immediately.