Bill > A4386

Introduced Session

This bill, to be known as "Nosey's Law," would prohibit the use of elephants in traveling animal acts. A traveling animal act is defined in the bill as any performance which requires an animal to be transported to or from the location of the performance in a mobile or traveling housing facility. A mobile or traveling housing facility is defined in the bill as a vehicle, including a truck, trailer, or railway car, used to transport or house an animal used for performance. Any person who violates this bill would be subject to the penalties provided in section 10 of "The Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act," P.L.1973, c.309 (C.23:2A-10). This would include civil administrative penalties, civil penalties, and injunctive relief, but not the criminal penalties in subsection f. of that section. Nosey is an elephant who is virtually crippled by arthritis, and who is forced to travel the country to give rides at fairs, flea markets, and other events. The arthritis has likely caused Nosey unnecessary suffering and permanent disability, and reports indicate that Nosey has been denied necessary veterinary care. Despite this, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has failed to take action to protect Nosey, and Nosey's owners continue to use her in shows. This bill would prohibit such shows in New Jersey.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Herbert Conaway (D)*,  Raj Mukherji (D)*,  Andrew Zwicker (D)*, 

Substituted by S2508 (1R) (on 01/08/2018)