Bill Text: NJ AJR71 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates Wednesday of second week in August as "Assistance Animal Recognition Day."
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-06-24 - Substituted by SJR49 (SCS/1R) [AJR71 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AJR71-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Designates Wednesday of second week in August as "Assistance Animal Recognition Day."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating Wednesday of the second week of August as "Assistance Animal Recognition Day."
Whereas, Assistance animals enhance the lives of their human partners by performing a variety of tasks that are important to an individual's independence, mobility, confidence, and comfort; and
Whereas, Persons with disabilities have the same rights to free and equal participation in society that persons without disabilities have, including access to public accommodations and transportation and to nondiscrimination in practices related to housing and employment; and
Whereas, The federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the laws of the State of New Jersey protect the rights of persons with disabilities and their assistance animals, as well as trainers and assistance animals in training; and
Whereas, There is a need for increased public awareness of the importance of assistance animals to persons with disabilities and of the rights of those who use assistance animals; and
Whereas, Education is essential to alert the public to the harm that is caused by the fraudulent misrepresentation of pets as assistance animals and by the failure of pet owners to control their animals in the presence of an assistance animal; and
Whereas, The residents of New Jersey need to know that interfering with, harming, or killing an assistance animal may result in criminal penalties and civil liability for the offender or the owner of an offending animal; and
Whereas, Local governments and law enforcement agencies should be made aware of the importance of enforcing existing local ordinances related to animal control in order to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and enable them to use assistance animals safely; and
Whereas, Training provided by chambers of commerce, local governments, and law enforcement agencies on the rights of persons with assistance animals is essential to ensuring nondiscrimination in employment practices and equal access to housing and public accommodations and transportation; and
Whereas, It is critical that local governments, other organizations, and the general public be aware of the important role played by the Division on Civil Rights in the Office of the Attorney General in receiving complaints of unlawful discriminatory practices related to employment, housing, and public accommodations and transportation; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Wednesday of the second week of August each year is designated "Assistance Animal Recognition Day" in the State of New Jersey in order to highlight the important role that assistance animals play in the lives of persons with disabilities and to promote awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities and their assistance animals.
2. The Governor shall issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates Wednesday of the second week of August each year as "Assistance Animal Recognition Day" in order to highlight the important role that assistance animals play in the lives of persons with disabilities and to promote awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities and their assistance animals.
