Bill Text: NJ S3618 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits certified animal control officer to enforce municipal animal ordinances; requires such officer to report person suspected of committing animal cruelty to municipal law enforcement officer.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-18 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [S3618 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3618-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Rice
SYNOPSIS
Permits certified animal control officer to enforce municipal animal ordinances; requires such officer to report person suspected of committing animal cruelty to municipal law enforcement officer.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the duties of animal control officers, and amending P.L.1983, c.525.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 4 of P.L.1983, c.525 (C.4:19-15.16b) is amended to read as follows:
4. The governing body of a municipality shall, within three years of the effective date of P.L.1983, c.525, appoint a certified animal control officer who shall be responsible for animal control within the jurisdiction of the municipality and who shall enforce and abide by the provisions of section 16 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.16) and who may enforce municipal animal control ordinances. The governing body shall not appoint a certified animal control officer, shall not contract for animal control services with any company that employs a certified animal control officer, and shall revoke the appointment of a certified animal control officer, who has been convicted of, or found civilly liable for, a violation of any provision of chapter 22 of Title 4 of the Revised Statutes or whose name is on the list or any revision thereto established and provided by the Commissioner of Health pursuant to subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.1983, c.525 (C.4:19-15.16a). The governing body shall, within 30 days after receipt thereof, review any such list or revision thereto received by the municipality and shall, within that 30-day period, take action accordingly as required pursuant to this section.
The governing body may authorize the certified animal control officer to serve concurrently as a municipal humane law enforcement officer pursuant to subsection c. of section 25 or subsection e. of section 26 of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.1 or C.4:22-14.2).
A certified animal control officer shall notify the municipal humane law enforcement officer of any person the certified animal control officer suspects has committed an animal cruelty offense under any provision of chapter 19 or 22 of Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.
(cf: P.L. 2017, c.331, s.6)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would clarify that a
certified animal control officer may
enforce municipal animal control ordinances. The bill would also require a certified animal control officer to notify the municipal humane law enforcement officer of any person the certified animal control officer suspects has committed an animal cruelty offense.
