Sponsored by:
Assemblyman STERLEY S. STANLEY
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman JULIO MARENCO
District 33 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Speight and Haider
SYNOPSIS
Establishes exemption from ban on importation of woodchucks under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the importation of woodchucks into the State, and supplementing P.L.1962, c.127 (C.23:4-63.3 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any other law, or policy, rule, or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, the prohibition on the importation of woodchucks into the State from any state in which a variant of rabies other than raccoon rabies is endemic, established by the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to its authority under section 1 of P.L.1962, c.127 (C.23:4-63.3), shall not apply to the importation of a woodchuck, also known as a groundhog, for the purposes of replacing a groundhog in order for a county or municipality to celebrate Groundhog Day when the countys or municipalitys groundhog has died, provided that every effort is made to replace the woodchuck with a woodchuck found in the State or imported from a state in which a variant of rabies other than raccoon rabies is not endemic, pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
b. The Division of Fish and Wildlife shall notify each county and municipality in the State of the limited exception established pursuant to subsection a. of this section and shall provide guidelines for replacing a woodchuck that dies. The division shall establish a procedure by which a county or municipality may request the relocation of a woodchuck from another part of the State to the custody of the county or municipality, as applicable, for the purposes of celebrating Groundhog Day. If the division is unable to provide for the relocation of a woodchuck in the State, the division shall authorize the importation of a woodchuck from outside of the State and shall recommend states from which the woodchuck may be imported with less risk to public health and safety. The division shall also establish requirements for the proper housing and handling of the woodchuck placed in the custody of the county or municipality, as applicable.
c. For the purposes of this section, the terms groundhog and woodchuck may be used interchangeably and mean the same animal, Marmota monax.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill establishes an exemption to the ban on importation of woodchucks into the State for the importation of a woodchuck for the purposes of replacing a groundhog in order for a county or municipality to celebrate Groundhog Day when the countys or municipalitys groundhog has died, provided that every effort is made to replace the groundhog with a woodchuck found in the State or imported from a state in which a variant of rabies other than raccoon rabies is not endemic as provided for in the bill. The bill directs the Division of Fish and Wildlife to notify each county and municipality in the State of the limited exception established by the bill, provide guidelines for replacing a woodchuck that dies, and establish procedures for relocating a woodchuck or authorizing its importation. Finally, the bill directs the division to establish requirements for the proper housing and handling of the woodchuck placed in the custody of the county or municipality, as applicable.