The Senate version is S. 1976, a bill to ban horse slaughter in New Jersey, is now in the Senate Economic Growth Committee. The senate version is sponsored by New Jersey state Senators Ronald J. Lesniak and Fred H. Madden, Jr. The bill is scheduled to be heard by the commmittee on Monday, June 4, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.
Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer, R-Ocean, Burlington , Middlesex and Mercer, introduced the measure, A-2023, after a federal ban was lifted last fall that reverses a 2006 decision by Congress to withdraw funding to inspect plants that butchered horses - effectively banning horse consumption.
"New Jersey does not eat horse meat and our horses will not be taken from the stable to a table," Dancer said. "The horse is New Jersey's state animal and we appreciate these magnificent animals for their grace and beauty. We do not want them butchered or sold to slaughterhouses in our communities for human consumption."
The bill would prohibit anyone from knowingly slaughtering or selling a horse for human consumption. Violators would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense with penalties up to $100 and 30 days imprisonment plus civil fines between $500 and $1,000 for each horse slaughtered or each carcass or meat product sold.
"New Jersey is taking the lead on this issue to make sure horses aren't taken from the pasture to the plate," Dancer said. "There are several organizations that provide adoption homes for horses, rather than sending them to slaughterhouses for their meat."
It has bipartisan support from Assemblymen Gilbert "Whip" Wilson and Nelson Albano.
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