Read the full stored bill text
S3849
SENATE, No. 3849
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
���� Exempts certain officers trained in animal cruelty
from certain additional Police Training Commission training courses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning
Police Training Commission animal cruelty training
and
amending P.L.2005, c.372 and P.L.2017, c.331.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� Section 11 of P.L.2005,
c.372 (C.4:22-11.11) is amended to read as follows:
���� 11.� a. The Police Training
Commission, in collaboration with the Attorney General, shall develop or
approve a training course for animal protection law enforcement, which shall
include but need not be limited to instruction in:
���� (1)�� the law, procedures, and
enforcement methods and techniques of investigation, arrest, and search and
seizure, specifically in connection with violations of State and local animal
cruelty laws and ordinances;
���� (2)�� information and
procedures related to animals, including animal behavior and traits and
evaluation of animals at a crime scene;
���� (3)�� methods to identify and
document animal abuse, neglect, and distress; and
���� (4)�� investigation of animal
fighting.
���� b.��� Every municipal humane
law enforcement officer, humane law enforcement officer of a county society for
the prevention of cruelty to animals, and chief humane law enforcement officer
or other officer designated pursuant to subparagraph (a) of paragraph (2) of subsection
a. of section 28 of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.4) shall satisfactorily complete
the animal protection law enforcement training course as soon as practicable,
but no later than one year after the date of the officer's designation.
���� c.���� (1)�
[
The chief law
enforcement officer of a municipality, or of a county, as applicable, may
request from the Police Training Commission an exemption from applicable law
enforcement parts of the animal protection law enforcement training course on
behalf of a current or prospective municipal humane law enforcement officer,
humane law enforcement officer of a county society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals, or chief humane law enforcement officer or other officer
designated pursuant to subparagraph (a) of paragraph (2) of subsection a. of
section 28 of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.4) who demonstrates successful
completion of a police training course conducted by a federal, state, or other
public or private agency, the requirements of which are substantially
equivalent to or which exceed the corresponding requirements
]
Except as
provided pursuant to subsection e. of this section:
����
(a)�� any person who, prior
to the date of enactment of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.1 et al.), has
successfully completed phase 1 and phase 2 of the Basic Humane Law Enforcement
Course
of the animal protection law enforcement training course curriculum
,
or similar course,
established through the Police Training Commission
shall
be exempt from the training required pursuant to subsection a. and b. of this
section; and
����
(b)�� any active or retired
municipal police officer, county investigator, sheriff�s officer, correctional
police officer, Class Two special law enforcement officer, humane law
enforcement officer, or member of the State Police who, prior to the date of
enactment of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.1 et al.), has successfully completed
phase 1 of the Basic Humane Law Enforcement Course of the animal protection law
enforcement training course curriculum, or similar course, established through
the Police Training Commission shall be exempt from the training required
pursuant to subsections a. and b. of this section
.
���� (2)�� The chief law
enforcement officer of a municipality, or of a county, as applicable, may
request from the Police Training Commission an exemption from applicable animal
control parts of the animal protection law enforcement training course on
behalf of a current or prospective municipal humane law enforcement officer,
humane law enforcement officer of a county society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals, or chief humane law enforcement officer or other officer
designated pursuant to subparagraph (a) of paragraph (2) of subsection a. of
section 28 of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.4) who demonstrates successful
completion of an animal control course pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1983, c.525
(C.4:19-15.16a).�
The Police Training Commission may approve the exemption
at its discretion, provided that no exemption shall be approved unless the
requirement in paragraph (1) of subsection e. of this section has been met and
the commission determines the person is not disqualified for an exemption
pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection e. of this section.
���� d.��� The Police Training
Commission shall provide for the issuance of a certificate to a person who
possesses, or acquires, the training and education required to qualify as a
municipal humane law enforcement officer, humane law enforcement officer of a
county society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or chief humane law
enforcement officer or other officer designated pursuant to subparagraph (a) of
paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 28 of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.4)
and shall provide a copy of the certificate to, as applicable, the municipal
humane law enforcement officer and the chief law enforcement officer of the
municipality or county, or to the humane law enforcement officer and the county
society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or to the chief humane law
enforcement officer or other officer designated pursuant to subparagraph (a) of
paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 28 of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.4)
and the county prosecutor.
����
e.���� (1) �A person
eligible for an exemption from the training requirements in subsection a. or b.
of this section shall not receive an exemption unless the person submits documentation
from the person�s primary care physician that the person satisfies standards of
health and physical fitness to perform the duties of a municipal police
officer, county investigator, sheriff�s officer, correctional police officer,
Class Two special law enforcement officer, humane law enforcement officer, or
member of the State Police, as applicable.
����
(2)�� An exemption from the
training required pursuant to subsection a. or b. of this section shall not be
provided to a person:
����
(a)�� convicted of a crime;
����
(b)�� found liable for any
civil animal cruelty offense pursuant to Title 4 of the Revised Statutes; or
����
(c)�� separated from duty as
a municipal police officer, county investigator, sheriff�s officer,
correctional police officer, Class Two special law enforcement officer, humane
law enforcement officer, or member of the State Police for seven years or more on
the date of enactment of P.L.2017, c.331.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.331, s.8)
���� 2.��� Section 27 of P.L.2017,
c.331 (C.4:22-14.3) is amended to read as follows:
���� 27.� Any humane law
enforcement officer
[
or
agent
]
appointed by a county society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, prior
to the date of enactment of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.1 et al.), or the New
Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shall be eligible for
designation as a municipal humane law enforcement officer pursuant to section
26 of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.2)
[
or
]
,
as
a humane law enforcement officer of a county society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals pursuant to section 29 of P.L.2017, c.331 (C.4:22-14.5)
,
or as a chief humane law enforcement officer or any law enforcement officer
under the supervision of the chief humane law enforcement officer designated by
the county prosecutor pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 28
of P.L.2017 c.331 (C.4:22-14.4)
.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.331 s.27)
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill exempts certain
persons who have already successfully completed certain Police Training
Commission courses from additional animal cruelty training required pursuant to
P.L.2017, c.331.� It also prohibits certain persons from receiving an exemption
from the training requirements.
���� The bill provides that any
person who, prior to the date of enactment of P.L.2017, c.331, has successfully
completed phase 1 and phase 2 of the Police Training Commission Basic Humane
Law Enforcement Course or a similar course is exempt from the additional
training required pursuant to that law.� The bill also authorizes a chief
humane law enforcement officer to request an exemption from the training
requirements for a current or prospective municipal humane law enforcement
officer, humane law enforcement officer of a county society for the prevention
of cruelty to animals, or chief humane law enforcement officer or other law
enforcement officer who received other animal cruelty training under Title 4 of
the Revised Statutes.� The bill authorizes the Police Training Commission to
grant a request for an exemption from the training requirements at its
discretion, provided that certain conditions established in the bill are met.
���� The bill requires a person obtain,
before receiving the exemption,�� documentation from the person�s primary care
physician that the person satisfies standards of health and physical fitness to
perform the duties of a municipal police officer, county investigator,
sheriff�s officer, correctional police officer, Class Two special law
enforcement officer, humane law enforcement officer, or member of the State
Police, as applicable. Finally, the bill prohibits a person from receiving an
exemption who has been:
���� 1)��� convicted of a crime;
���� 2)��� found liable for any
civil animal cruelty offense pursuant to Title 4 of the Revised Statutes; or
���� 3)��� separated from duty as a
municipal police officer, county investigator, sheriff�s officer, correctional
police officer, Class Two special law enforcement officer, or member of the
State Police for seven years or more on the date of enactment of P.L.2017,
c.331.
���� Finally, the bill removes the
authorization for agents of a county society for the prevention of cruelty to
animals, appointed prior to the date of enactment of P.L.2017, c.331
(C.4:22-14.1 et al.), to be designated as municipal humane law enforcement
officer, a humane law enforcement officer of a county society for the prevention
of cruelty to animals, or as a chief humane law enforcement officer or a law
enforcement officer under the supervision of the chief humane law enforcement
officer.