S 4043 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires youth and sports organizations to obtain criminal history record background checks of certain volunteers, employees and organizers.*

This bill requires youth and sports organizations in New Jersey to obtain criminal history background checks for all employees, volunteers, and organizers working with individuals under 18 years of age. Organizations must request these checks through the State Bureau of Identification, and individuals must provide written consent before a check is conducted. The bill establishes that organizations bear the cost of the checks, mandates annual checks unless a valid check from the same year was already completed, and imposes civil penalties of up to $1,000 for organizations that fail to comply. Additionally, it creates criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly participate in youth organizations despite being disqualified based on their criminal history or for organizers who ignore background check results.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 23, 2026 Last action Jun 11, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Senate Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The Senate Committee Substitute consolidates S4043 with S3016, broadens the definition of 'youth serving organization' by removing the requirement that it be formally established under specific state statutes, adds an exclusion for licensed youth camps, and creates a new exemption for counties and municipalities that already have their own background check policies in place. The substitute also consistently adds 'organizers' to criminal penalty provisions alongside employees and volunteers.

Scope change

Scope expanded by removing the statutory establishment requirement for youth serving organizations (now covers any entity providing activities for under-18s), but narrowed by adding exclusions for licensed youth camps and a broad exemption for local governments with existing background check policies.

SCOPE

The definition of 'youth serving organization' no longer requires the entity to be established pursuant to Title 15, Title 15A, or other state law. This broadens coverage to any person or organization providing recreational, cultural, charitable, social, or other activities for persons under 18, regardless of how it was formally created.

Licensed youth camps (those licensed under P.L.1973, c.375) are now explicitly excluded from the definition of 'youth serving organization,' removing them from the background check requirement.

ELIGIBILITY

A new section 2(j) exempts any county or municipal government that has adopted an ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, or personnel policy requiring annual criminal history record background checks of all employees, volunteers, and organizers who have contact with persons under 18 through recreation, park, cultural, social, or athletic activities. This could significantly limit the bill's practical reach in areas where local governments already have such policies.

ENFORCEMENT

The criminal penalty provisions (fourth degree crimes) now consistently include 'organizer' alongside 'employee' and 'volunteer,' expanding who can be criminally liable for participating with knowledge of disqualification or for disregarding background check results.

TIMELINE

The Attorney General audit provision was clarified to state the audit must begin no later than the first day of the 37th month following enactment, rather than simply 'no later than the 37th month.'

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

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Key actions

Committee

Jun 11, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee

upper

3 primary · 2 co-sponsors