Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman ANTHONY CHIAPPONE
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Office of Animal Welfare in DHSS.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Office of Animal Welfare in the Department of Health and Senior Services, and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, there is established in the Department of Health and Senior Services the Office of Animal Welfare. The office shall fulfill all the responsibilities and duties assigned to the department pursuant to Title 4 of the Revised Statutes that relate to the care, housing, and shelter of animals and the protection of animals from animal cruelty in all its forms. The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall appoint a director to the office, and the director of the office shall report directly to the commissioner.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes in the Department of Health and Senior Services the Office of Animal Welfare. The bill further charges the office with all the responsibilities and duties of the department, pursuant to Title 4 of the Revised Statutes, that relate to the care, housing, and shelter of animals and the protection of animals from animal cruelty in all its forms. Finally, the bill directs the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to appoint a director to the office, and specifies that the director shall report directly to the commissioner.