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Bill

A 129

Directs the commissioner of education to change the name of the state high school equivalency diploma to the Excelsior diploma

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Anil Beephan and 16 co-sponsors

Establishes seizure, emergency removal, and care procedures for animals in alleged cruelty cases, plus court-ordered recovery of reasonable care costs from owners.

AMENDED ON THIRD READING 129C
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 129

Summary — Assembly Bill A129 (Introduced version)

Note on title/text discrepancy: The bill header supplied names A129 as directing the Commissioner of Education to rename the State high school equivalency diploma the “Excelsior diploma.” However, the full text provided for the introduced version is a different measure concerning animals involved in animal cruelty investigations. This summary describes the substantive introduced-version text (animal‑cruelty related), which is the detailed content supplied. Confirm with legislative records which short title/version is controlling.

Main purpose

To create procedures for the seizure, emergency removal, care, and post‑seizure cost recovery for animals involved in alleged animal‑cruelty violations; to define key terms (e.g., “animal,” “reasonable costs of care,” “necessary veterinary care”); and to supplement Title 4 of the Revised Statutes and amend P.L.2017, c.189.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions: Establishes statutory meanings for terms including “animal” (vertebrates except humans, with exclusions for certain livestock), “animal care facility,” “animal cruelty violation” (civil/criminal violations under Title 4 or Title 2C, excluding the 2019 dog‑tethering law), “enforcement agency,” “necessary veterinary care” (limited to measures preventing imminent death, alleviating extreme pain, basic care, euthanasia; generally excludes elective or non‑emergent surgery), and “reasonable costs of care” (shelter, food, bedding, psychological enrichment, necessary veterinary care).

  • Seizure and entry authority:

    • Courts may issue warrants authorizing humane law enforcement officers or other law enforcement to enter private property and take custody of animals upon a showing of reasonable cause.
    • Warrantless entry is permitted when the officer reasonably believes immediate intervention is required to protect the animal’s life, prevent injury, or provide necessary medical attention.
    • After a warrantless seizure, the officer must promptly petition the court to order the animal held in the shelter/pound where placed until adjudication and final disposition.

  • Custody and care after seizure:

    • Animals seized must be placed in the care of a licensed shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter/pound.
    • A licensed veterinarian may euthanize an animal only if intractable, in extreme pain, and beyond reasonable hope of recovery with reasonable treatment.
    • Shelters may place animals into rescue organizations or foster homes or provide care to improve physical/psychological well‑being if in the animal’s best interest and not resulting in unreasonable additional cost; euthanasia remains limited as described.
    • Section 16 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19‑15.16) does not apply to animals held in custody under these seizure provisions unless the animal is being held as a result of final disposition following adjudication.

  • Cost recovery by care providers:

    • An animal care facility (or authorized agent, including a municipal/county prosecutor) that takes custody of an animal may, within 20 days after seizure, file a complaint in Superior Court seeking recovery of the “reasonable costs of care” from the animal’s owner, or from the person from whom the animal was taken if the owner is unknown.
    • The complaint must be served on the owner/possessor and must include: facility contact information; a description of the animal and a veterinarian’s assessment and needed care; actual and estimated reasonable costs of care; notice that the owner may relinquish ownership to the enforcement agency or facility; and other required statements (text truncated in provided copy).

Who is affected

  • Animal owners and persons from whom animals are seized — potentially liable for reasonable costs of care and subject to seizure or forfeiture proceedings.
  • Municipal and county humane law enforcement officers, county SPCA agents, and other law enforcement — receive explicit authority for seizure and emergency entry.
  • Licensed shelters, pounds, kennels, and rescue/foster providers — responsible for care, placement decisions, and ability to seek cost recovery through court.
  • Licensed veterinarians — responsible for assessments, emergency care decisions, and determinations regarding euthanasia.
  • Courts — will adjudicate seizure warrants, post‑seizure custody orders, and cost recovery complaints.

Procedural / timeline aspects & status

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024.
  • Legislative actions include committee referrals and multiple prints/amendments (129A, 129B) and re‑referrals to Education and Rules committees (dates through May 2025).
  • Current status (per supplied record): REPORTED — REFERRED TO RULES (May 27, 2025).
  • The introduced text includes time limits (e.g., 20 days to file a cost‑recovery complaint) and directs prompt court petitions following emergency seizures.

Notes and outstanding items

  • The provided text is truncated in the middle of the cost‑recovery provisions; additional procedural details (e.g., hearings, bonds, lien or judgement enforcement, timelines for owner responses, burden of proof, and disposition/forfeiture conditions) likely appear later in the bill and should be reviewed in the complete bill text.
  • Fiscal impacts (costs to shelters, municipalities, or State) are not included in the text provided; the bill could shift costs or create offsetting recoveries for shelters but may also create workload for courts and enforcement agencies.
  • Confirm final bill title and text version (129, 129A, 129B) before citing or acting on this summary; a separate title/version appears to concern renaming a high‑school equivalency diploma and may be a distinct measure or an earlier drafting/clerical mismatch.

Sponsors (selected): John Zaccaro Jr. (primary), with multiple cosponsors including Billy Jones, Monique Chandler‑Waterman, Andrew Hevesi, Brian Manktelow, and others. Companion/similar Senate bill: S5067.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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