Bill > S4627

Introduced Session

This bill: (1) establishes new criminal offenses related to dog owners and handlers responsible for unrestrained dog attacks or injuries to another person or animal; (2) imposes civil penalties separate from the criminal penalties for violations; and (3) grants victims or the owner of a victimized dog or cat the right to request a hearing to determine whether an attacking dog is vicious or potentially dangerous, regardless of whether that an animal control officer has already done so. Presently, animal control laws impose a uniform set of State requirements and related municipal court proceedings for when a dog is to be declared vicious or a potentially dangerous dog, but do not explicitly impose criminal culpability upon an owner or handler whose conduct permitted the dog to cause injury. The bill creates the offense of negligent handling of a dog to cases where on four or more occasions, a person violates a local law, rule, or regulation concerning the leashing of a dog outside of areas designated. Under the bill, records of the violations run with the person handling the dog, without regard to whether different dogs are involved. Allowing multiple dogs to run unleashed in violation of local law, rule, or regulation at the same time shall constitute one violation. Negligent handling of a dog is a petty disorderly persons offense. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment, a fine up to $500, or both. The bill also creates the crime of reckless handling of a dog. Under the bill, a person is guilty of reckless handling of a dog if the person allows the dog to injure a person, cat, or other dog without justification or provocation. Reckless handling of a dog is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine up to $1,000, or both. Reckless handling of a dog where the injury requires hospitalization of a person or animal, or results in death, including medically recommended humane euthanasia of an animal, is a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine up to $10,000, or both. Reckless handling of a dog is a crime of the third degree if the person handling the dog instructs the dog, by verbal command, bodily gesture, or other command to injure a person, cat, or other dog where there is no threat or imminent danger. A crime of the third degree is punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a fine up to $15,000, or both. The sponsor recognizes that while this offense may overlap with conduct constituting an assault under N.J.S.A.2C:12-1, the act of issuing a command may not, pursuant to the requirement of the assault statute, constitute conduct manifesting extreme indifference to human life. This provision in the bill would cover that circumstance. The bill creates separate civil penalties for violations committed under the bill. The bill provides that the owner of a dog who commits the offense of reckless handling of a dog shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500 for a disorderly persons offense; $1,000 for a crime of the fourth degree; and $2,000 for a crime of the third degree, in addition to any other applicable penalty. The penalty may be reduced by the amount which is paid as restitution by the owner of the dog to the person or the owner of an animal suffering serious physical injury, as compensation for unreimbursed medical or veterinary expenses, lost earnings, and other damages. Any monies collected pursuant to this section are to be made payable to the municipality or county providing law enforcement or emergency services in response to the violation. Finally, the bill amends N.J.S.A.4:19-20, a provision in P.L.1989, c.307, the animal control law, concerned with providing notice to the owner of a seized dog. The amendment requires that notice be given to a victim or owner of a victimized dog as well. This notice will enable a victim or owner of the victimized animal to request a hearing to determine whether the attacking dog is vicious or potentially dangerous. The amendment further requires that an animal control officer who has issued four or more notices to the same individual shall refer the matter to the municipal prosecutor for a negligent handling investigation. This bill is based on Assembly Bill A8462A, legislation introduced May 16, 2025, in the New York Assembly, known as "Penny's Law," to create the offenses of negligent handling of a dog and reckless handling of a dog.

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Troy Singleton (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 06/23/2025)

Official Document