STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN DIMAIO
District 23 (Warren and Hunterdon)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman McHose
SYNOPSIS
Designates bison as agricultural livestock.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the designation of bison as agricultural livestock and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the bison shall be designated as agricultural livestock and shall be subject to the laws, rules and regulations governing the importation, care and breeding of that type of animal in the State. Nothing in this section or in any other law, rule or regulation, including “The "Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act," P.L.1973, c.309 (C.23:2A-1 et seq.) shall be construed to classify the bison as an exotic animal or wildlife.
b. The Department of Agriculture may adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), in order to effectuate the purposes of this act.
2. This act shall take effect on the 60th day following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would designate the bison (or American buffalo) as agricultural livestock, subject to regulations of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Senior Services. Currently, these animals are considered an "exotic species," and their possession is regulated by the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection. The bill also would permit the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.