SENATE SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 1335

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: SEPTEMBER 19, 1996

      The Senate Senior Citizens, Veterans' Affairs and Agriculture Committee favorably reports a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1335.

      The Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1335 would provide that whenever a crop depredation permit is issued by the State to a person to kill deer causing crop damage on land under cultivation pursuant to the provisions of R.S.23:4-42, it shall be lawful for the permittee or authorized agent thereof, for the purposes authorized by the permit and only while on the land or lands under cultivation which are owned or leased by that permittee (but not on or along any public highway adjacent thereto), and for which the permit is issued, to:

      (1) Kill either sex deer at any time of day or night;

      (2) Discharge a firearm authorized pursuant to the provisions of R.S.23:4-44 from a motor vehicle or any other kind of vehicle provided the vehicle has come to a complete stop;

      (3) Transport, possess, have in the permittee's or agent's control, or keep firearms uncased, loaded, and outside the trunk while in or on a motor vehicle or any other kind of vehicle notwithstanding the provisions of 2C:39-6 to the contrary;

      (4) Utilize an illuminating device or devices, including but not limited to a spotlight, flashlight, floodlight, or headlight, whether portable or fixed to a motor vehicle or any other kind of vehicle, to locate and stun deer; and

      (5) Be assisted by the use of a driver for the motor vehicle or other kind of vehicle, and by a person or persons operating the illuminating device or devices, none of whom shall be required to possess a firearms purchaser identification card while providing such assistance.

      Finally, the substitute bill would require the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife shall include in its annual report the number of deer killed pursuant to permits issued for the purposes set forth in R.S.23:4-42.

      As reported, the Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1335 is identical to Assembly BIll No. 1932 (1R) with Senate committee amendments.