SENATE SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 739

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 7, 1996

      The Senate Senior Citizens, Veterans' Affairs and Agriculture Committee reports favorably a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 739.

      This committee substitute would require vehicles used to transport animals to have proper ventilation for the safe and comfortable transport of the animals. Any person transporting animals in improperly ventilated vehicles would be guilty of carrying an animal in a cruel and inhumane manner, which would be a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a jail term of up to a maximum of six months or a fine of up to a maximum of $1,000, or both. The bill would also provide for a civil penalty of up to a maximum of $250.

      The committee substitute would require the Department of Agriculture to adopt standards for the proper ventilation for the safe and comfortable transport of living animals or creatures. The department would also be required to consider recommendations from the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Department of Health, and the Department of Environmental Protection when establishing the standards.

      Finally, circuses that transport animals across state boundary lines and that are subject to United States Department of Agriculture regulations concerning the humane transport of animals would be exempt from the requirements of the committee substitute.