Bill > A5224

Introduced Session

This bill prohibits the harassing or taking of certain wildlife (defined as "covered wildlife" in the bill) at a competitive event, and any person from organizing, sponsoring, promoting, conducting, or participating in a competitive event at which the participants harass or take covered wildlife. "Covered wildlife" is defined in the bill as all animal life existing in a wild state, or any part, product, egg, or offspring, or the dead body or parts, thereof, except for fish, shellfish, mollusks, or crustaceans. The bill provides that a person who violates the prohibitions in the bill would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and, in addition to the applicable penalties pursuant to Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, would also have suspended for five years: 1) any license or permit issued to the person by the Division of Fish and Wildlife; and 2) all privileges to take or possess wildlife. A disorderly persons offense is subject to a penalty of up to six months of imprisonment, a fine up to $1,000, or both. This bill requires any covered wildlife injured as a result of a competitive event to be transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or State licensed veterinarian for proper treatment or to be euthanized if necessary. The bill authorizes the Division of Fish and Wildlife to forfeit the remains of any covered wildlife killed at a competitive event held in violation of this bill or euthanized as a result of the competitive event. Forfeited remains would become property of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. The bill directs municipal police officers, the State Police, and law enforcement officers in the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Division of Parks and Forestry in the Department of Environmental Protection to enforce the bill's provisions.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Daniel Benson (D)*,  Eric Houghtaling (D)*,  Carol Murphy (D)*,  Robert Clifton (R),  Ronald Dancer (R),  Mila Jasey (D),  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee (on 03/25/2019)