Bill Text: NJ A3274 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requires institutions of higher education to offer cats and dogs no longer used for educational, research, or scientific purposes for adoption; designated the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act." *

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-13 - Substituted by S2826 (2R) [A3274 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-A3274-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 3274

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2018

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblyman  RONALD S. DANCER

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblyman  DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Murphy and Assemblyman Johnson

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires institutions of higher education to offer cats and dogs no longer used for educational, research, or scientific purposes for adoption; designated the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As amended by the General Assembly on January 13, 2020.

 

An Act concerning the disposition of cats and dogs used by institutions of higher education for educational, research, or scientific purposes, ¹designated the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act,"¹ and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  An institution of higher education ¹[, or a facility that conducts research in collaboration with an institution of higher education,]¹ that uses cats or dogs for educational, research, or scientific purposes, ¹[before euthanizing a cat or dog that is no longer to be used for such purposes,] or a research institution that contracts with an institution of higher education for the use of cats or dogs for educational, research, or scientific purposes, shall require the assessment of the health of a cat or dog and determine whether it is suitable for adoption after the completion of any testing or research involving the cat or dog. If the institution determines that the cat or dog is suitable for adoption, the institution¹ shall ¹[first]¹ offer the cat or dog to an animal rescue organization ¹or private individual¹ for adoption ¹[, provided that euthanizing the cat or dog is not required for health or safety reasons]¹.  An institution ¹[or facility]¹ required to offer cats or dogs ¹[to an animal rescue organization] for adoption¹ pursuant to this section may enter into an agreement with an animal rescue organization ¹or private individual¹ to implement this section on an on-going basis.

     b.    An institution ¹[or facility]¹ that provides a cat or dog to an animal rescue organization ¹or private individual¹ pursuant to this section shall be immune from any civil liability arising from the transfer of the cat or dog, provided the institution ¹[or facility]¹ has acted in good faith concerning the ¹[health and physical condition of] suitability of¹ the cat or dog ¹for adoption¹.

     ¹c.   An institution required to offer cats or dogs for adoption pursuant to this section may establish guidelines or other qualifications in order to determine if a cat or dog is suitable for adoption, or to determine whether an animal rescue organization or private individual is qualified to receive a cat or dog for adoption pursuant to this section.¹

     ¹[c.]  d.¹    As used in this section, "animal rescue organization" means the same as that term is defined in section 1 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.1).

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.