Bill Text: NJ S253 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expands emergency operations plans to include care for domestic animals.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [S253 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S253-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
Senator CHRISTOPHER J. CONNORS
District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Expands emergency operations plans to include care for domestic animals.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning emergency preparedness and amending P.L.1989, c.222.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 18 of P.L. 1989, c.222 (App.A:9-43.1) is amended to read as follows:
18. The State Office of Emergency Management shall adopt, no later than 12 months following the effective date of this act, a State Emergency Operations Plan, including rules, regulations, and guidelines, that shall be reviewed and updated at least every two years. The plan shall include provisions, which shall be developed in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to support the needs of animals and individuals with an animal under their care, including a domesticated or service animal, in a major disaster or emergency. In addition, the State Office of Emergency Management shall take appropriate steps to educate the public regarding the resources available in the event of an emergency and the importance of emergency preparedness planning.
(cf: P.L. 2006, c.92, s.1)
2. Section 19 of P.L. 1989, c.222 (App.A:9-43.2) is amended to read as follows:
19. Each county and municipality in the State shall prepare a written Emergency Operations Plan with all appropriate annexes necessary to implement the plan. The development of all plans shall be coordinated with the Emergency Operations Plans of the State, county and neighboring municipalities to ensure a regional coordinated response and the efficient use of resources. These plans shall include provisions, which shall be developed in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to support the needs of animals and individuals with an animal under their care, including a domesticated or service animal, in a major disaster or emergency. Each Emergency Operations Plan shall be adopted no later than one year after the State Emergency Planning Guidelines have been adopted by the State Office of Emergency Management and shall be evaluated at such subsequent scheduled review of the State Emergency Operations Plan.
(cf: P.L.2006, c.92, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill expands requirements for the emergency operations plan to include care for domestic animals. Currently, the State statute only requires the State and local emergency operation plans to address the needs of farm animals and service animals during an emergency.
As demonstrated by thousands of pets that were abandoned or displaced after Hurricane Katrina, the sheltering of domesticated animals in the aftermath of a natural disaster is an increasingly important issue. Additionally, it was shown that in many instances people were willing to risk their personal safety than choose to leave a pet behind to weather a disaster.
This bill in effect brings the State in compliance with the federal Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-308) which requires the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop emergency evacuation plans that take into account the needs of individuals with pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency.
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey, there are approximately 74.8 million owned dogs in the United States and thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog. There are approximately 88.3 million owned cats in the United States and 34 percent of U.S. households (or 38.4 million) own at least one cat.
This bill implements recommendation eight of the Assembly Coastal New Jersey Evacuation Task Force which was established by Assembly Resolution No. 146. The task force was created to examine and assess the coastal evacuation plans.
