Requires certain consumer disclosures relating to rabies testing and establishes optional training for veterinarians.

S4444

SENATE, No. 4444

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 11, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� BRIAN P. STACK

District 33 (Hudson)

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires certain consumer disclosures relating to
rabies testing and establishes optional training for veterinarians.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning veterinarians and rabies testing and
amending and supplementing P.L.2021, c.436.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 2 of P.L.2021,
c.436 (C.26:4-86.2) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2. a. Except as provided under
subsection e. of this section, no rabies testing shall be performed on a dead
domestic companion animal until the health official requiring the rabies
testing, or the veterinarian preparing and submitting the specimen for rabies
testing, and the owner of the animal have complied with the requirements of
subsections b. and c. of this section.

���� b.��� Whenever it is necessary
to test a dead domestic companion animal for rabies, prior to commencing any
testing procedure, the health official requiring the rabies testing, or the
veterinarian preparing and submitting the specimen for rabies testing, as applicable,
shall
provide the owner of the animal with a paper copy, and an electronic
copy, if the owner�s electronic mail address is available, of the Department of
Health�s VPH-35 Rabies Testing Notification Form and shall
notify at the
first opportunity the owner of the animal, if known, verbally and in writing,
of:

���� (1) the necessity of the
rabies testing and the reasons therefor;

���� (2) the rabies testing
protocol to be followed;

���� (3) the protocol to be
followed with regard to the handling of the animal's body;

���� (4) the protocol to be
followed with regard to the disposal of the animal's body
, including the
decapitation and medical waste disposal of the animal�s head,
or its return
to the owner; and

���� (5) the protocol of
decapitation.

����
It shall be a violation of
P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), subject to all remedies and penalties
available pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), in addition to any
other remedies or penalties provided by law, for a veterinarian to
intentionally misrepresent, including through the use of euphemisms, code
words, or otherwise, the information required to be provided pursuant to this
subsection.� It shall be assumed that a veterinarian who intentionally
misrepresents information pursuant to this subsection is not acting within the
veterinary scope of practice.

���� c.���� Upon receiving the
notification required in subsection b. of this section, the owner of the animal
shall immediately provide, in writing, in the manner prescribed by the
department pursuant to subsection d. of this section:

���� (1) release of the animal to
the health official or veterinarian, as applicable, for the rabies testing, in
accordance with the protocols to be followed pursuant to subsection b. of this
section; and

���� (2) the owner's signature to
acknowledge notification about the protocols and procedures to be followed
pursuant to this section.

���� d.��� The Department of Health
shall develop and provide on its website forms for use in providing the
notification required pursuant to subsection b. of this section, and the
release, and acknowledgement of notification required pursuant to subsection c.
of this section.

���� e.���� This section shall not
apply to rabies testing required pursuant to section 10 of P.L.1989, c.307
(C.4:19-26) or to the handling of an impounded animal that is suspected of
being rabid pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.16).� In cases
where a veterinarian or health official has made reasonable attempts to contact
the owner to comply with this section and the owner is unable to be contacted
or refuses to provide a signature, rabies testing can proceed.� When contact is
made but a written signature or acknowledgement by the owner cannot be
obtained, the veterinarian or health official shall document the date and time
that verbal
or electronic
notification was made to the owner and keep
this information on file for
[
six
months
]

three years
.

���� f.���� Nothing in this section
shall be construed to interfere with the powers of any municipality to control
rabies consistent with R.S.26:4-95.

���� g.��� As used in this section,
"domestic companion animal" means any animal commonly referred to as
a pet that was bought, bred, raised, or otherwise acquired, in accordance with
local ordinances and State and federal law, for the primary purpose of providing
companionship to the owner, rather than for business or agricultural purposes.�
"Domestic companion animal" shall not include "domestic
livestock" as defined in subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.1995, c.311
(C.4:22-16.1).

(cf: P.L.2021, c.436, s.2)

���� 2.��� (New section)� a.� The
division, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, shall develop a pamphlet with information
concerning:

���� (1)�� rabies vaccines,
including the effectiveness and that vaccines may not be completely effective
in preventing rabies;

���� (2)�� rabies quarantine and
testing protocol, including:

���� (a)�� the circumstances under
which a pet may be selected for rabies testing;

���� (b)�� that indoor vaccinated
domestic companion animals provoked to bite are tested by the Department of
Health;

���� (c)�� that cremation or burial
services purchased for an animal that undergoes rabies testing would not
include the animal�s head due to testing protocol, even if the animal is
negative for rabies; and

���� (d)�� that the remains of an
animal that is positive for rabies would not be returned to the owner; and

���� (3)�� the availability of the
Department of Health�s VPH-35 Rabies Testing Notification Form.

���� b.��� The division and the
Department of Health shall make the pamphlet available, in English and in
Spanish:

���� (1)�� in print, to
veterinarians and the public; and

���� (2)�� on the Internet websites
of both the division and the Department of Health.

���� c.���� The division shall
develop and make available to veterinarians a poster promoting the pamphlet
developed pursuant to this section.� The poster shall:

���� (1)�� provide a brief overview
of the contents of the pamphlet, including that the information may affect
burial and cremation services purchased by a consumer; and

���� (2)�� encourage consumers to
ask a veterinarian for a copy of the pamphlet or to download a copy from the
Internet websites of the division and the Department of Health.

���� d.��� A veterinarian, or the
veterinarian�s staff, shall:

���� (1)�� provide a copy of the
pamphlet to every owner of a domestic companion animal at the time the
veterinarian administers a rabies vaccine to the animal; and

���� (2)�� display, in a prominent
location in the office reception area, the poster developed pursuant to this
section.�

���� e.���� A veterinarian who
fails to meet the requirements of subsection d. of this section shall be
subject to a penalty in an amount to be determined by the division, in
consultation with the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

���� f.���� As used in this
section, �division� means the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of
Law and Public Safety.

���� 3.��� (New section)� a.������� The
division, in consultation with the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, shall
establish a trauma-informed mental health protection training certification
program for veterinarians licensed to practice in this State or staff of
veterinarians licensed to practice in this State.� Participation in the program
shall be optional for veterinarians licensed to practice in this State and
staff of veterinarians licensed to practice in this State.� The division shall
issue a certification to any individual who completes the program.

���� b.��� The training shall:

���� (1)�� follow the trauma-informed
approach of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
including information on how veterinarians and staff can protect the mental
health of pet owners, veterinarians, and staff based on the principles
fundamental to a trauma-informed approach, including:

���� (a)�� safety;

���� (b)�� trustworthiness and transparency;

���� (c)�� peer support;

���� (d)�� collaboration and mutuality;

���� (e)�� empowerment, voice, and
choice; and

���� (f)�� cultural, historical,
and gender issues; and

���� (2)�� aim to end mental health
discrimination and stigma, suicide, and mental health trauma risks in the
veterinary industry.

���� c.���� The division shall
request assistance from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration for guidance on developing the training.

���� d.��� As used in this section,
�division� means the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the
Department of Human Services.

���� 4.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of
enactment.

STATEMENT

���� The bill provides that it is a
violation of the consumer fraud act for a veterinarian to intentionally
misrepresent, including through the use of euphemisms, code words, or
otherwise, the information required under current law to be provided to the
owner of a dead domestic companion animal undergoing testing for rabies.� An
unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000
for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense.� In
addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the
Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of
treble damages and costs to the injured party.

���� In addition, the bill requires
the Division of Consumer Affairs to develop a poster and pamphlet with
information relating to rabies vaccines and quarantine and testing protocols.�
Veterinarians are required to display the poster in office reception areas and
to distribute the pamphlets to certain customers.

���� Lastly, the bill requires the
Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a trauma-informed
mental health protection training certification program for veterinarians and
staff.� The program is optional, and those who complete it are to receive a
certification from the division.