Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman PARKER SPACE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Assemblyman NELSON T. ALBANO
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblywoman MARLENE CARIDE
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen McHose and Schepisi
SYNOPSIS
Establishes State’s exclusive authority with regard to regulation of apiary activities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning municipal regulation of apiary activities, and supplementing Title 4 and Title 40 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, or rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, no municipality may:
(1) adopt an ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation concerning the breeding or keeping of honeybees or any activities related thereto, including, but not limited to, the use of honey bees for pollination, the reproduction and sale of honeybees, or the production and sale of honey or other apiary products from such bees; or
(2) establish any restriction or requirement that would result in the prohibition of the breeding or keeping of honeybees, the use of honey bees for pollination, or any activities related thereto, in the municipality.
b. The State, exclusively, shall regulate apiary activities in the State pursuant to R.S.4:6-1 through R.S.4:6-18, sections 8 and 9 of P.L.1977, c.159 (C.4:6-19 and C.4:6-20), P.L.2007, c.271 (C.4:6-21 et seq.), section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and any other applicable laws.
2. The Department of Agriculture shall regulate the breeding or keeping of honeybees and any activities related thereto, including, but not limited to, the use of honey bees for pollination, the reproduction and sale of honeybees, and the production of honey and apiary products from such bees. Pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Department of Agriculture shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill:
1) prohibits any municipality from regulating the breeding or keeping of honeybees and any related activities, including the reproduction and sale of honeybees, or the production and sale of honey from honeybees;
2) establishes the State’s exclusive authority to regulate honeybees; and
3) directs the Department of Agriculture to regulate apiary activities in the State and adopt any rules and regulations necessary to do so.