SENATE, No. 807

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 22, 1996

 

 

By Senators CONNORS, BASSANO and Bubba

 

 

An Act concerning animal rescue, and supplementing Title 2A and P.L.1953, c.393 (C.App. A:9-30 et seq.).

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. Any individual who in good faith renders emergency care to an animal at the scene of an accident or during a disaster, or while transporting an animal during a rescue from a disaster, shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions by such person in rendering the emergency care.

 

    2. Each county and municipality in the State may include, within its Emergency Operations Plan, provision for an emergency animal rescue response unit to provide veterinary care to injured animals, transport for abandoned or lost animals, and temporary food and shelter to lost, abandoned, or recovering animals. The emergency animal rescue response unit shall be under the supervision of the municipal emergency management coordinator, as designated pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1953, c.438 (C.App. A:9-40.1) or the county emergency management coordinator as designated pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1953, c.438 (C.App. A:9-42.1), as the case may be.

 

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill would provide immunity from civil liability to any individual who in good faith renders emergency care to an animal at the scene of an accident or during a disaster, or while transporting an animal during a rescue from a disaster. In addition, the bill would allow any county or municipality to include, within its Emergency Operations Plan, provision for an emergency animal rescue response unit to provide veterinary care to injured animals, transport for abandoned or lost animals, and temporary food and shelter to lost, abandoned, or recovering animals. The emergency animal rescue response unit would be under the supervision of the municipal emergency management coordinator, or the county emergency management coordinator as the case may be. Any such emergency animal rescue worker would consequently be covered under the worker's compensation law (C.34:15-43) if injured in the line of duty.

 

 

                             

 

Provides immunity from civil liability for persons performing animal rescue and authorizes formation of emergency animal rescue response units.