Bill Text: NJ SJR49 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Chaptered

New Jersey Senate Joint Resolution 49 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Designates Wednesday of second week in August as "Assistance Animal Recognition Day."

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2013-08-09 - Approved P.L.2013, JR-10. [SJR49 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2012-SJR49-Chaptered.html

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C.36:2-213 &

36:2-214

P.L.2013, Joint Resolution No. 10, approved August 9, 2013

Senate Committee Substitute (First Reprint) for

Senate Joint Resolutions Nos. 49 and 55

A Joint Resolution designating Wednesday of the second week ¹[in] of¹ August as "Assistance Animal Recognition Day."

Whereas, Assistance animals enhance the lives of their human partners by performing a variety of tasks that are important to an individual's independence, mobility, confidence, and comfort; and

Whereas, Persons with disabilities have the same rights to free and equal participation in society that persons without disabilities have, including access to public accommodations and transportation and to nondiscrimination in practices related to housing and employment; and

Whereas, The federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the laws of the State of New Jersey protect the rights of persons with disabilities and their assistance animals, as well as trainers and assistance animals in training; and

Whereas, There is a need for increased public awareness of the importance of assistance animals to persons with disabilities and of the rights of those who use assistance animals; and

Whereas, Education is essential to alert the public to the harm that is caused by the fraudulent misrepresentation of pets as assistance animals and by the failure of pet owners to control their animals in the presence of an assistance animal; and

Whereas, The residents of New Jersey need to know that interfering with, harming, or killing an assistance animal may result in criminal penalties and civil liability for the offender or the owner of an offending animal; and

Whereas, Local governments and law enforcement agencies should be made aware of the importance of enforcing existing local ordinances related to animal control in order to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and enable them to use assistance animals safely; and

Whereas, Training provided by chambers of commerce, local governments, and law enforcement agencies on the rights of persons with assistance animals is essential to ensuring nondiscrimination in employment practices and equal access to housing and public accommodations and transportation; and

Whereas, It is critical that local governments, other organizations, and the general public be aware of the important role played by the Division on Civil Rights in the Office of the Attorney General in receiving complaints ¹[from persons with assistance animals for] of¹ unlawful discriminatory practices related to employment, housing, and public accommodations and transportation; now, therefore,

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

1. Wednesday of the second week ¹[in] of¹ August ¹[of]¹ each year is designated "Assistance Animal Recognition Day" in the State of New Jersey in order to highlight the important role that assistance animals play in the lives of persons with disabilities and to promote awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities and their assistance animals.

2. The Governor ¹[shall] is requested to annually¹ issue a proclamation ¹recognizing the day and¹ calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.