SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3239

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 20, 2024

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3239.

      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 county’s or municipality’s 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.