Bill Text: NJ S305 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Revises definition of "necessary care" in the State's animal cruelty law to include more specific requirements.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [S305 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-S305-Introduced.html

SENATE, No. 305

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JEFF VAN DREW

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Revises definition of "necessary care" in the State's animal cruelty law to include more specific requirements.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  


An Act concerning animal cruelty and amending R.S.4:22-15.

 

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

 

     1.    R.S.4:22-15 is amended to read as follows:

     4:22-15.      As used in this article:

     "Animal" or "creature" includes the whole brute creation.

     "Bodily injury" means physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition.

     "Necessary care" means care sufficient to preserve the health and well-being of an animal, and [includes, but is not limited to:] , except for emergencies or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the person responsible for the care of the animal, providing the following:  (1) food of sufficient quantity and quality to allow for normal growth or maintenance of body weight; (2) open or adequate access to drinkable water of an appropriate temperature in sufficient quantity and quality to satisfy the [animal's] needs of the animal; (3) access to adequate protection from the weather, including an enclosed non-hazardous structure sufficient to protect the animal in which there is adequate bedding to protect the animal against cold and dampness; (4) adequate protection for the animal from extreme or excessive sunlight and from overexposure to the sun, heat and other weather conditions; [and] (5) veterinary care to alleviate suffering and maintain health; and (6) reasonable access to a clean and adequate exercise area.

     "Owner" or "person" includes a corporation, and the knowledge and acts of an agent or employee of a corporation in regard to animals transported, owned, employed, or in the custody of the corporation shall be imputed to the corporation.

     "Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.

(cf:  P.L.2013, c.88, s.1)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill amends the definition for "necessary care," established by P.L.2013, c.88 (designated as Patrick's Law), to provide for additional specific care requirements.

     Under the bill, "necessary care" means care sufficient to preserve the health and well-being of an animal, and, except for emergencies or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the person responsible for the care of the animal, providing the following:  (1) food of sufficient quantity and quality to allow for normal growth or maintenance of body weight; (2) open or adequate access to drinkable water of an appropriate temperature in sufficient quantity to satisfy the needs of the animal; (3) access to adequate protection from the weather, including an enclosed non-hazardous structure sufficient to protect the animal in which there is adequate bedding to protect the animal against cold and dampness; (4) adequate protection for the animal from extreme or excessive sunlight and from overexposure to the sun, heat and other weather conditions; (5) veterinary care to alleviate suffering and maintain health; and (6) reasonable access to a clean and adequate exercise area.

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