1. a. There shall be established in, but not of, the Department of Health, a Domestic Companion Animal Council, which shall consist of 12 members, each of whom shall be chosen with due regard to the individual’s knowledge of and interest in animal welfare, animal population control and the public health and well-being as they relate to the breeding, raising and nurturing of animals as domestic companion animals.

Each member shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, as follows: two members shall be appointed from persons recommended by the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association; one member shall be appointed from persons recommended by the New Jersey Health Officers Association; one member shall be appointed from persons recommended by the New Jersey Certified Animal Control Officers Association; one member shall be appointed from persons recommended by the New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs, Inc.; one member shall be appointed from persons recommended by People for Animals, Inc.; one member shall be appointed from persons recommended by the county societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals in northern New Jersey; one member shall be appointed from persons recommended by the county societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals in southern New Jersey; one member who shall be a volunteer at any county animal shelter within the State; one member shall be a representative of a volunteer animal rescue and welfare organization; and two members shall be appointed from persons recommended by the Humane Society of the United States. Each member shall be appointed for a term of four years and until the member’s successor is appointed and qualified.

Any member of the Domestic Companion Animal Council shall be eligible for reappointment, but may be removed from office by the Governor for cause.

Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the council for any cause shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only, except that, upon expiration of the term of the member recommended by the Cat Fanciers’ Association, a replacement shall be appointed from persons recommended by People for Animals, Inc., upon expiration of the term of the member recommended by the New Jersey Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a replacement shall be appointed from persons recommended by the county societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals in northern New Jersey, and upon expiration of the term of the member recommended by the Associated Humane Societies, a replacement shall be appointed from persons recommended by the county societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals in southern New Jersey.

For the purposes of this section, “northern New Jersey” means Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties; and “southern New Jersey” means Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, and Salem counties.

b. A majority of the membership of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of council business. Action may be taken and motions and resolutions adopted by the council at any meeting thereof by the affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership of the council.

c. The Governor shall appoint a chairman and the council may appoint other officers as may be necessary. The council may appoint staff or hire experts as it may require within the limits of appropriations made for these purposes.

d. Members of the council shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties.

e. The council may call to its assistance any employees as are necessary and made available to it from any agency or department of the State or its political subdivisions.

f. For the purposes of this act, “domestic companion animal” means any animal commonly referred to as a pet or one that has been bought, bred, raised or otherwise acquired, in accordance with local ordinances and State and federal law, for the primary purpose of providing companionship to the owner, rather than for business or agricultural purposes.

L.1995, c.145, s.1; amended 2017, c.331, s.7.