Bill Text: NJ A4263 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes penalty for destruction of man-made native bee hive.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-16 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [A4263 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A4263-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes penalty for destruction of man-made native bee hive.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning man-made bee hives, and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Any person who intentionally destroys a man-made native bee hive shall be liable to a civil penalty of up to $500 for each offense.
b. Any penalty imposed pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be collected in a civil action by a summary proceeding under the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.) or in any case before a court of competent jurisdiction wherein injunctive relief has been requested. The Superior Court and municipal court shall have jurisdiction to enforce the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" in connection with this act. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it continues shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct offense. Penalties recovered for violations of this section shall be remitted to the Department of Agriculture and expended on programs to manage or revive honey bee or native bee populations in the State.
c. As used in this section:
"Man-made native bee hive" means a tube or other apparatus in which bees may nest, and which is installed to attract native bees other than honeybees.
"Native bee" means a bee of a species that is native to the State and does not produce honey, but provides for the pollination of crops or plants, or other agricultural, environmental, or horticultural benefits.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a civil penalty of up to $500 for each offense when a person intentionally destroys a man-made native bee hive. Under the bill, a man-made native bee hive is defined as a tube or other apparatus in which native bees may nest, and which is installed to attract native bees. A native bee is defined as a species native to the State that does not produce honey, but that provides for the pollination of crops or plants, or other agricultural, environmental or horticultural benefits.
