Bill Text: NJ A6019 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs DOH to establish policies to reduce number of cats and dogs euthanized at shelters and pounds.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-05 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [A6019 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A6019-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Directs DOH to establish policies to reduce number of cats and dogs euthanized at shelters and pounds.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the euthanizing of cats and dogs in shelters and pounds and supplementing P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Health, in consultation with the shelters and pounds in the State and the municipalities that license them pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.8), shall establish a policy to be implemented by the shelters and pounds that limits, to the greatest extent practicable, the number of cats and dogs euthanized annually to no more than 10 percent of all cats and dogs impounded in shelters and pounds throughout the State. Any municipality that licenses a shelter or pound may establish additional policies to support the goal set by this subsection.
b. In addition to the requirements established pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.16), each shelter and pound in the State shall adopt and implement a program to reduce the necessity of euthanizing cats and dogs in the shelter or pound, which shall include, but not be limited to, cooperative agreements with shelters and pounds in other states to relocate animals to locations where adoptive owners have been identified, and use of technology, social media, and websites to find homes for cats and dogs in shelters or pounds.
c. Each shelter and pound in the State shall report annually to the licensing municipality and the Department of Health the number of cats and dogs received by the shelter or pound and the number of cats and dogs euthanized by the shelter or pound on a monthly basis. A shelter or pound reporting a greater than 40 percent euthanasia rate shall be subject to license review and revocation pursuant to the revocation process in section 8 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.8). The Department of Health and the licensing municipality shall review the policies and procedures implemented by the shelter or pound at any shelter or pound reporting a greater than 10 percent euthanasia rate, and shall make recommendations to the shelter or pound for improvement of its operations that would reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized at the shelter or pound.
d. As part of its annual budget request, the Department of Health shall request moneys to provide shelters and pounds with adequate funding to reduce the number of animals euthanized at shelters or pounds due to the cost of caring for the animals.
e. The Department of Health, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), may adopt rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with the shelters and pounds in the State and the municipalities that license them, to establish a policy to be implemented by the shelters and pounds that limits, to the greatest extent practicable, the number of cats and dogs euthanized annually to no more than 10 percent of all cats and dogs impounded in shelters and pounds throughout the State. The bill also provides that any municipality that licenses a shelter or pound may establish additional policies to support that goal.
The bill also requires each shelter and pound in the State:
1) to adopt and implement a program to reduce the necessity of euthanizing cats and dogs in the shelter or pound, which includes, but is not limited to, cooperative agreements with shelters and pounds in other states to relocate animals to locations where adoptive owners have been identified, and use of technology, social media, and websites to find homes for cats and dogs in the shelter or pound;
2) to report annually to its licensing municipality and the DOH the number of cats and dogs received by the shelter or pound and the number of cats and dogs euthanized by the shelter or pound on a monthly basis.
Furthermore, the bill provides that any shelter or pound that reports:
1) a greater than 40 percent euthanasia rate would be subject to license review and revocation; and
2) a greater than 10 percent euthanasia rate would have its policies and procedures reviewed by the DOH and the licensing municipality, and receive recommendations for improvement of its operations that would reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized at the shelter or pound.
Finally, the bill authorizes DOH to adopt rules and regulations and directs DOH to request, as part of its annual budget request, the moneys to provide shelters and pounds with adequate funding to reduce the number of animals euthanized at shelters or pounds due to the cost of caring for the animals.
