|
REPORT
OF THE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Legislative Report
May 2006
New Jersey State
Legislation
A1827 (last session Bill
A3219) Animal Sterilization Bill
Sponsored
by Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, Legislative District 14 and Assemblyman
Reed Gusciora District 15
S1026 (last session Bill
A2873) Cats and Dogs-concerns sterilization
Sponsored by Senator Stephen Sweeney, District 3
The
Assembly bill was
introduced 1/10/2006 and referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural
Resources Committee. The Senate bill was introduced 1/17/06 and referred
to the Senate Economic Growth Committee.
Both bills required all cats and dogs released from pounds and shelters to
be spayed or neutered. The bills did grant exceptions. However, the
exceptions were fraught with errors and would be impossible to enforce.
For instance, the language referred to “a professional licensed breeder
registered with the American Kennel Club.” We know there is no such
thing. The Assembly bill went on to describe a Cat and Dog Sterilization
Fund that would be funded by increased dog license fees.
Both bills were heard in Committee
on Monday, May 15. Barbara Wicklund attended the Senate committee meeting
and Priscilla Gabosch attended the Assembly Committee meeting. In the
Senate meeting, after hearing testimony from only a couple of individuals
(Barbara did not get to speak), the Senate Committee sent to the bill back
to the sponsor to be re-worked.
In the Assembly Committee, the bill
was only to be discussed, not voted upon. Last year we had met with
Assemblywoman Greenstein and had provided her with our recommendations in
writing regarding the proposed bill. None of the recommendations were
included in this year’s version. What had been discussed in Assemblywoman
Greenstein’s office last year, Priscilla now presented to the full Assembly
Committee. The Committee was receptive to the idea that a Cat and Dog
Sterilization Fund should not be funded by only dog-owners and. at one
point, a member suggested that perhaps there should be separate bills for
cats and dogs.
Assemblywoman Greenstein and Senator
Sweeney will now be re-working their bills.
For anyone wishing to let his/her
position be known contact:
Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein Senator Stephen Sweeney
7
Centre Drive, Suite 2
Kingsway Commons
Monroe, NJ 08831-1565
935 Kings Highway, Suite 400
609-395-9911
Thorofare, NJ 08086
FAX (609)-395-9032
(856) 251-9801
AsmGreenstein@njleg.org
SenSweeney@njleg.org
We will continue to monitor the
bills.
S695 Dog License Fee
Bill sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg and A1432 sponsored by Valerie
Huttle (District 37)
allow municipalities to charge up to $21 for a dog license (up from $7).
This represents a threefold increase of the current fee. The Bill passed
through the entire Senate already (with a 28-10 vote). It subsequently was
received in the Assembly and referred to the Assembly Housing and Local
Government Committee.
The Assembly bill was
heard in Committee on Thursday, May 11. Barbara Wicklund and Priscilla
Gabosch both gave testimony. The Committee seemed sympathetic to our
position and indicated they would review the amount with the sponsor.
However, they voted to approve the bill. The next step is that it will
come before a vote of the Assembly. Since it is identical to the Senate
bill, if it passes in the Assembly, it will go to the Governor for signing
into law.
It is essential that
you contact your Assemblyperson’s office and let them know where you stand
on this issue. Talking points you can use are:
- It is inequitable
to triple dog license fees, while most license fees (such as driver’s
licenses) are increased only modestly.
- Where licensing is
enforced, some owners will be compelled to surrender their dogs to the
local shelter.
- The increase in
license fees will create new disincentives to license dogs.
The New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs recommends a ceiling of $14 for the
present time, which is still a doubling of the fees that NJ residents would
face when purchasing their dog licenses.
Local Ordinances
|
