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NJ S3919
Bill
Status
12/5/2024
Primary Sponsor
Angela Mcknight
Click for details
AI Summary
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Requires every New Jersey municipality to establish a municipal animal control program that provides animal control services, enforces state animal control and cruelty laws, and appoints a municipal health officer to oversee the program
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Mandates certified animal control officers respond immediately to reports of stray, dangerous, or injured animals, with specific protocols for sick/injured animals, suspected cruelty cases, stray domestic animals, and vicious dogs
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Establishes Department of Health oversight through the State Office of Veterinary Public Health, which will review municipal contracts with private animal control services, receive complaints not resolved locally, and adopt statewide regulations
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Requires each municipality to create a homeless cat program that may include impoundment, sheltering, managing cat colonies with trap-neuter-return protocols, or other humane methods for addressing homeless cats
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Appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health for grants to help municipalities cover costs of implementing the new animal control requirements
Legislative Description
Requires establishment of municipal animal control programs and DOH oversight over such programs; appropriates $500,000 for grants to municipalities for associated costs.
Economic Growth
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee
12/5/2024