Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires reporting of animal abuse by certain child protection agency employees.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the reporting of animal abuse by certain child protection agency employees and supplementing Chapter 6 of Title 9 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. An employee of the Department of Children and Families who is designated by the Commissioner of Children and Families to investigate child abuse or neglect, while acting within the scope of their employment, who has reasonable cause to believe that an animal other than domestic livestock, has been subjected to an act of animal abuse, including any animal cruelty or neglect, shall report, as soon as possible, the suspected animal abuse to the Chief County Humane Law Enforcement Officer and to:
(1) the local humane law enforcement officer if the municipality has its own police department or if the municipality is patrolled by a county police department; or
(2) the State Police if the municipality does not have its own police department.
b. An employee of the Department of Children and Families who is designated by the Commissioner of Children and Families to investigate child abuse or neglect, while acting within the scope of their employment, who has reasonable cause to believe that an animal that is domestic livestock has been subjected to an act of animal abuse by being raised, kept, cared for, treated, marketed, or sold in a manner that violates the standards, rules, or regulations adopted pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1), shall report, as soon as possible, the suspected animal abuse to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and to the municipal or county humane law enforcement officer.
c. An employee, or former employee, who makes a report or provides records or information or who testifies in any judicial proceeding arising from the report, records, or information, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability or administrative penalty or sanction on account of the report, records, information, or testimony, unless the employee acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose.
d. As used in this section:
“Animal abuse” means any violation of chapter 22 of Title 4 of the Revised Statutes, or any other provision of law establishing a crime against animals.
“Animal cruelty” means an act that violates R.S.4:22-17, R.S.4:22-18, R.S.4:22-19, R.S.4:22-20, R.S.4:22-23, R.S.4:22-24, section 1 and 2 of P.L.1999, c.307 (C.4:22-25.3 and 4:22-25.4), or section 1 of P.L.2012, c.52 (C.4:22-25.5); is enumerated under R.S.4:22-26; or would constitute failure to provide necessary care pursuant to P.L.2017, c.189 (C.4:22-17.1 et seq.).
“Domestic livestock” means domestic livestock as the term is defined in section 1 of P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1).
“Neglect” means failure to provide necessary care for an animal as defined in R.S.4:22-15 and pursuant to R.S.4:22-17.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
In recent years, a growing body of research, including studies published in the Journal of Emotional Abuse, the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, and Violence Against Women, has explored the co-occurrence of animal abuse and domestic violence. In the wake of these studies, state legislatures have introduced and adopted bills mandating the cross-reporting of animal and child abuse between humane law enforcement agencies and child protective agencies.
This bill requires an employee of the Department of Children and Families who is designated by the Commissioner of Children and Families to investigate child abuse or neglect, while acting within the scope of their employment, to report suspected animal abuse to certain humane law enforcement officials and agencies and/or to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.