Bill
Bill > A5140
NJ A5140
NJ A5140Increases penalties for denying access to public facilities, NJT, and transportation network companies to service dogs and their handlers.
summary
Introduced
12/16/2024
12/16/2024
In Committee
12/16/2024
12/16/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill increases the penalties, from civil to criminal, for any person who denies or interferes with the access of a service dog or their handler to a public facility, to any form of transportation operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation, or any transportation network company. Currently, any person who interferes or denies the access of a service dog or their handler to a public facility is liable for civil penalties as follows:· $250 for the first violation; · $500 for the second violation; and· $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. This bill would subject any person denying access to a public facility, to any form of transportation operated by NJT, or any transportation network company towards a service dog or their handler to criminal penalties. A person in violation of section 1 of P.L.1971, c.130 (C.10:5-29), or section 1 of P.L.2016, c.25 (C.27:25-5b), or section 15 of P.L.2017, c.26 (C.39:5H-15) would be charged with a petty disorderly persons offense for the first violation, and a disorderly persons offense for the second and each subsequent violation. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both; however, for a second and each subsequent violation, the standard term of up to six months' imprisonment has been increased to up to one year.
AI Summary
This bill increases penalties for denying access to service dogs and their handlers by changing current civil penalties to criminal charges. Under the new law, anyone who interferes with or denies a service dog and its handler access to public facilities, New Jersey Transit (NJT) transportation, or transportation network companies (TNCs) will face criminal penalties. For a first offense, a person would be charged with a petty disorderly persons offense, which can result in up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine up to $500. For second and subsequent offenses, the charge becomes a disorderly persons offense, now carrying a potential imprisonment of up to one year (previously six months) and/or a fine up to $1,000. The bill also specifies that these penalties can be in addition to any other legal actions, such as filing a complaint with the Division on Civil Rights. The penalties collected will be used to fund educational programs for law enforcement about service dog access rights, and the Attorney General is required to establish a public awareness campaign about the law's provisions. The bill aims to strengthen protections for individuals with disabilities who rely on service dogs by imposing more serious consequences for discriminatory access denials.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (5)
Aura Dunn (R)*,
Michael Inganamort (R)*,
Barbara McCann Stamato (D)*,
Dawn Fantasia (R),
Carol Murphy (D),
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee (on 12/16/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5140 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A5500/5140_I1.HTM |
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