4:19-15.30 "Pet Sterilization Pilot Program."

3. a. The Department of Health shall develop and establish a pilot program to be known as the "Pet Sterilization Pilot Program." The pilot program shall operate in any county with significant animal overpopulation issues that is selected for the program by the Commissioner of Health and agrees to participate in the program. Upon the county's agreement to participate, every shelter, pound, and kennel operating as a shelter or pound in the county shall participate in the pilot program.

b. A shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound in a county participating in the pilot program established under subsection a. of this section shall require every cat or dog to be sterilized before releasing it to a person adopting a cat or dog from the shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound when adoption is permitted pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.16), except as provided under section 4 of P.L.2011, c.142 (C.4:19-15.31). The shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound may charge the person adopting the animal the cost of sterilization.

c. The pilot program shall operate for a period of at least two years. No later than two years after the pilot program is established and becomes operative, the Commissioner of Health shall submit a written report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature. The report shall contain information on the implementation of the pilot program and shall include the recommendation of the commissioner on the feasibility of implementing the pilot program on a Statewide basis.

L.2011, c.142, s.3; amended 2012, c.17, s.12.