Bill > S1916

Introduced Session

This bill provides for the regulation and licensing of dog trainers. The bill establishes the Dog Trainer Board of Examiners in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, which will consist of nine members. Two members will be public members; three members will be licensed dog trainers, except for the members first appointed; two members will be veterinarians licensed in this State; one member will be affiliated with an animal protection group; and one member will be a State executive department member. The bill permits the board to establish fees for those licensed under the bill and incorporates the terms of the law on fees of professional boards, P.L.1974, c.46 (C.45:1-3.1 et seq.), and the uniform enforcement and procedure act, P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-14 et seq.), for enforcement of standards and punishment of violations. To be eligible to be licensed as a dog trainer, an applicant shall: be at least 18 years of age; be of good moral character; have successfully completed high school or successfully passed a high school equivalency examination developed by the General Education Development (GED) Testing Service; have successfully completed a minimum of 300 hours in dog training under the supervision of, and documented by, a dog trainer licensed pursuant to this bill in the three years previous to applying for licensure; and pass an examination administered or approved by the board to determine the applicant's competence to practice dog training. The examination required by the bill must be held at least twice a year at the times and places to be determined by the board. The board, in consultation with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), must adopt as the examination required of applicants for licensure under this bill any CCPDT certification examination, or any other examination that is determined by the board to be a substantially similar assessment of dog training skills and competency. The bill provides an exemption from the requirement that an applicant for licensure successfully complete a minimum of 300 hours in supervised dog training if the applicant provides proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant has engaged in the practice of dog training in this State continuously for at least one year prior to the effective date of the bill. There is also an exemption from the requirement that an applicant for licensure pass an examination administered or approved by the board if the applicant provides proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant has passed any CCPDT certification examination, or any other examination that is determined by the board to be a substantially similar assessment of dog training skills and competency, prior to the effective date of the bill. The bill provides for licenses to be issued for a three-year period, and will be renewed upon filing a renewal application. A license will not be renewed until the license holder submits satisfactory evidence to the board that during the preceding three years the license holder has completed such continuing education credits as are to be determined by the board pursuant to regulation. The board will approve, in consultation with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), continuing education credits that build upon the basic knowledge of dog training and which enhance the competency of the license holder. The board may make exceptions from the continuing education requirement in emergency or hardship cases with the approval of an affirmative vote of a majority of the board.

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Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee (on 03/03/2022)

Official Document