ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 455

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 24, 2019

      The Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 455.

      This bill requires that, before any horse may be sold at an auction, the auction organizer is to determine whether the horse has an implanted microchip, or has been tattooed or branded with any identifying mark.  If the horse has an implanted microchip, tattoo, or brand, the auction organizer is required to post, on its Internet website, all identifying information, including any identification number contained in the microchip, and a detailed description or picture of any tattoo or brand found on the horse.  This information is required to be posted no later than 72 hours before the horse is sold at an auction.

      To document compliance with the provisions of this bill, auction organizers would be required to maintain records for each horse sold at auction, including:

      1) the presence or absence of a microchip, tattoo, or brand;

      2) the date and time of the posting of the information required by the bill; and

      3) the date and time each horse was sold at auction.

      An auction organizer would be required to maintain these records for a minimum of one year following the date of sale.

      Any person found to be in violation of this bill is subject to a civil penalty of up to $200 for a first offense and up to $500 for a second and each subsequent offense.

      As reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 3673, as also reported by the committee.