This bill amends existing animal control laws in New Jersey to redirect excess funds collected from animal license fees and other related fees. Instead of transferring these excess funds to the general funds of municipalities or the State, the bill mandates that any unexpended balance in the special accounts be transmitted to the county prosecutors' offices or the Superintendent of State Police. Specifically, 40% of the funds sent to the county prosecutors will be retained by their office, while the remaining 60% will be distributed equally among municipalities in the county. Similarly, for the funds sent to the Superintendent of State Police, 40% will be retained by the Division of State Police, 50% will be distributed to humane law enforcement officers in each county, and 10% will go to the Law Enforcement Training and Equipment Fund.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that any funds transferred from these special accounts must be used exclusively for enforcing animal cruelty laws, including the investigation and prosecution of related offenses. It also allows for the transfer of these funds to appropriate accounts as necessary to support the enforcement efforts. The bill aims to enhance the enforcement of animal cruelty laws by ensuring that financial resources are allocated directly to the relevant authorities and training programs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4:19-15.11, 4:19-15.3, 4:22-17.6