LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3277

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: AUGUST 8, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires transfer of certain excess animal control funds to prosecutors, municipalities, police departments, and Police Training Commission for enforcement of animal cruelty laws and training of humane law enforcement officers.

Type of Impact:

Annual redistribution of State and local revenues.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Law and Public Safety; Department of Health; Counties; Municipalities.

 

 

Fiscal Impact

 

Annual 

 

State Revenue Impact

 

Indeterminate

 

Local Revenue Impact

 

Indeterminate

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds the bill’s requirements relating to excess animal control funds will result in an indeterminate annual redistribution of State and local revenues.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires that excess monies from animal license fees and other fees imposed under animal control statutes, which are deposited in special accounts established and held by a municipality or by the State, be transmitted to the county prosecutor’s office or to the Superintendent of State Police for the enforcement and prosecution of State animal cruelty laws.  These funds are currently deposited in special accounts and held by each municipality and the Department of Health.  

      Under current law, unexpended balances remaining in municipal animal control accounts may be retained until the end of the third fiscal year, at which point the funds are transferred to the municipal general fund.  Unexpended balances remaining in the Department of Health’s trust fund account may be retained until the end of the third fiscal year, at which point the funds are transferred to the to the State General Fund.  Under the provisions of this bill, any excess funds remaining in a municipality’s special account would instead be transmitted to the prosecutor’s office of the county where the municipality is located.  Any excess amounts in the Department of Health’s trust fund from dog registration tag fee revenues will be transmitted to the Superintendent of State Police, for the enforcement and prosecution of State animal cruelty laws.  

      Of the amounts transmitted to the county prosecutor’s office, 40 percent would be retained by the county prosecutor’s office and 60 percent would be distributed among the various municipalities in the county.  Of the amounts transmitted to the Superintendent of the State Police, 40 percent would be retained by the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety, 50 percent would be distributed to the chief humane law enforcement officer of each county throughout the State, and 10 percent would be transmitted to the Law Enforcement Officers Training and Equipment Fund for use by the State Police Training Commission.

      Any monies transferred from State or municipal special funds, except those transferred to the Law Enforcement Officers Training and Equipment Fund, would be used exclusively for the purposes of facilitating and supporting the enforcement of State animal cruelty laws in the State, county, or municipality.  Any monies transferred to the Law Enforcement Officers Training and Equipment Fund would be used by the State Police Training Commission for the purposes of offsetting the costs of training provided to humane law enforcement officers in the State.

      The bill authorizes the county prosecutor, the Superintendent of State Police, and the chief humane law enforcement officer of a county to provide for the transfer of monies to the appropriate county, municipal, or State accounts as necessary to effectuate the purposes of this bill.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds the bill’s requirements relating to excess animal control funds will result in an indeterminate annual redistribution of State and local revenues.

     

Fund Distribution under Existing Law:

      Under current law, unexpended balances remaining in municipal animal control accounts may be retained until the end of the third fiscal year, at which point the funds are transferred to the municipal general fund.  Unexpended balances remaining in the Department of Health’s trust fund account may be retained until the end of the third fiscal year, at which point the funds are transferred to the to the State General Fund.   

      Under State law, dog owners are required to apply for a license and registration tag for each animal.  Animal licensing fees in New Jersey are established by municipal ordinance and can range from $1.50 to $21.00 per dog, depending on license type (e.g., one- or three-year registration).  Municipalities also collect certain fees for animal population control enforcement, and fees concerning licensing and regulating of kennels, pet shops, and pounds pursuant to State law (e.g., a $10 annual license for a kennel providing accommodations for 10 or less dogs; $25 for more than 10 dogs; $10 annual license fee for a pet shop).  These include a $1.00 pet registration tag fee for each dog licensed, which is forwarded to the New Jersey Department of Health for rabies and animal control reasons; $3.00 for dogs that are not spayed or neutered; and 20 cents for each dog licensed.   These fees are used to fund low-cost spay and neuter programs.  Certain funds may also be distributed to counties and veterinary centers to support municipal and county animal control and animal sheltering activities. 

     

State Revenue Impact of the Bill:

      State revenues would be impacted under the bill, as unexpended fees in the trust fund established in the Department of Health from dog registration tag fees are redistributed to the Superintendent of State Police.  Of this amount, 40 percent would be retained by the Division of State Police, 50 percent would be distributed to the county chief humane law enforcement officers, and 10 percent would be distributed to the State Police Training Commission.

     

County Revenue Impact of the Bill:

      County revenues would be impacted under the bill, as 40 percent of excess funds in municipal special accounts are transmitted to county prosecutor’s offices and 50 percent of the monies redistributed to the Superintendent of State Police from the Department of Health’s account is to be transmitted to the chief humane law enforcement officer in each county throughout the State. 

       Under the provisions of the bill, certain remaining monies in municipal animal cruelty prevention accounts would, after three years, be distributed to the county prosecutors’ offices to enforce animal cruelty laws.  County prosecutors would be authorized to transfer these funds to other appropriate accounts to enforce animal cruelty prevention laws.

     

Municipal Revenue Impact of the Bill:

      Municipal revenues would be impacted under the bill, as animal licensing fees are redistributed to county and State accounts.  Of the amount transferred to county prosecutors’ offices, 60 percent would be distributed to municipalities in the county to special municipal accounts for enforcement of the State’s animal cruelty laws. 

 

 

Section:

Environment, Agriculture, Energy & Natural Resources

Analyst:

Anna Heckler

Assistant Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).