SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1739

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 23, 2005

      The Senate Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1739.

      This bill provides that public school pupils may refuse to dissect, vivisect, incubate, capture or otherwise harm or destroy animals or any parts thereof as part of their course of instruction. Any pupil choosing not to participate in such activities must be provided with an alternative education project by the school for the purpose of providing the pupil with the factual knowledge, information or experience required by the course of study. The bill also provides that a pupil may not be discriminated against, in grading or otherwise, based upon his or her decision to exercise the rights afforded under the bill.