Bill
S 3746
Prohibits convicted animal cruelty offenders from owning or working with animals for years, requires forfeiture/transfer of their animals, and tightens pretrial intervention rules.
Status: Committed to Rules (introduced Oct 7, 2024; reported out of Senate Economic Growth Committee with amendments Dec 12, 2024; passed Senate 34–0 Jan 14, 2025; received in Assembly and referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development & Agriculture Committee; most recently committed to Rules 6/13/2025)
Purpose
- To prevent persons convicted of criminal animal cruelty from directly caring for or working with animals for a court‑specified period, to provide courts authority to remove animals from convicted offenders, and to limit pretrial intervention eligibility for animal cruelty charges. The bill is designated “Moose’s Law.”
Key provisions
- Prohibition on animal ownership and involvement with animal enterprises:
- A person convicted of a “criminal animal cruelty offense” may not (for the period set by the court): (1) acquire, own, or reside with any animal; or (2) commence, operate, apply for employment at, be employed by, volunteer at, or otherwise participate in any capacity in an “animal-related enterprise.”
- Violation of these prohibitions is a disorderly persons offense.
- Forfeiture and transfer of animals:
- Upon conviction, the court must order forfeiture of animals owned by the offender and, based on the animal’s best interest (health, safety, well‑being, protection from harm), either transfer the animal to the custody of a licensed shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter/pound, or transfer the animal to a co-owner who does not live with the offender and has no animal cruelty conviction.
- Duration of prohibitions:
- The ownership prohibition must be for at least two years after conviction or release from incarceration (whichever is later); alternatively, for the length of probation if it is two years or longer; or for a longer period at the court’s discretion based on offense severity and prior history.
- The court also may prohibit participation in animal‑related enterprises for a period it deems appropriate under the same factors.
- Relief and reversal:
- Offenders may petition the court to reduce the employment/participation ban by presenting evidence of rehabilitation regarding treatment of animals.
- Persons disqualified under the law may reapply for employment/volunteering if the disqualifying conviction is reversed.
- Pretrial intervention:
- Amends N.J.S.2C:43‑12 to create a presumption against admission into Pretrial Intervention for defendants charged with an animal cruelty offense.
Definitions (selected)
- “Animal-related enterprise” — includes for‑profit or non‑profit entities involving hands‑on contact or direct interaction with animals (e.g., zoos, veterinary operations, breeding operations, shelters/pounds, kennels/boarding, pet shops, adoption/sales services, transport services).
- “Criminal animal cruelty offense” — offenses under ch. 22 of Title 4 and specified New Jersey statutes (and equivalent conduct in other jurisdictions).
Who is affected
- Individuals convicted of animal cruelty offenses as defined by the bill.
- Animal‑related enterprises that employ or use volunteers (may be restricted from hiring certain convicted persons).
- Animals owned by convicted offenders (subject to forfeiture/transfer).
- Prosecutors and defense counsel in pretrial intervention decisions.
Committee amendments & notes
- Committee amendments clarify that forfeiture and transfer decisions must consider the animal’s best interest (health, safety, well‑being, protection from harm) and specify transfer to licensed shelters/pounds/kennels or eligible co‑owners; they also clarify employment prohibitions and make technical corrections.
Sponsors and related measures
- Primary sponsor: Sen. Cordell Cleare; multiple cosponsors including Luis Sepúlveda, Nathalia Fernandez, Robert Jackson, Jamaal Bailey, Julia Salazar, Jessica Ramos, Leroy Comrie, Kevin S. Parker, James Sanders Jr.
- Companion: A3709. Related/prior-session bills: S7934, S8070, S1013, S4795.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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