This bill makes it a fourth-degree crime to knowingly install or use electronic tracking devices or applications to monitor another person's location when doing so is intended to start or help commit an illegal act. It directly affects individuals who use GPS trackers, spyware, or similar technology to surveil others without permission, with exceptions for parents tracking minors, employers monitoring work-related vehicles, and situations involving consent or health safety concerns. The law requires written consent for tracking and automatically revokes that consent if a divorce or restraining order is filed, while also excluding government agencies from these restrictions.
This bill expands New Jersey's domestic violence protections to include minors aged 16 and older, allowing them to be both victims and defendants under the state's domestic violence statutes. The key provision amends existing laws to define "victim of domestic violence" to include anyone 16 or older, while maintaining that acts by unemancipated minors under 16 do not constitute domestic violence. Under this change, individuals aged 16 and up could seek restraining orders against abusive partners, and those same individuals could be subject to such orders if they commit domestic violence against others. The law applies retroactively to all acts of domestic violence committed on or after the effective date.
This bill requires law enforcement to seize ammunition and certain firearm components from individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders or convicted of domestic violence offenses in New Jersey. The legislation directly affects people who have been legally restricted due to domestic violence charges or court orders by mandating the removal of their ammunition and specific firearm parts. Key provisions include expanding the definition of "firearm" to cover air guns and spring guns, clarifying definitions for terms like "destructive device" and "machine gun," and updating the legal framework for firearm regulations. The bill aims to enhance public safety by ensuring that individuals with domestic violence convictions or restraining orders cannot access ammunition or modify their firearms. This change is part of broader amendments to New Jersey's statutory law regarding domestic violence and firearms.
This bill creates the Hope Card Program in New Jersey to provide victims of domestic violence with a free, wallet-sized card containing essential information about their restraining orders. The program will be administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts, which must issue these cards within 10 business days of a final restraining order and maintain them online and in printed form at all Superior Courts. Courts will update the central registry to allow protected individuals to access their records through the Hope Card, while law enforcement and other agencies must verify card information against the registry when investigating domestic violence cases. The bill also amends existing laws to clarify who can access domestic violence registry records and establishes penalties for unauthorized disclosure of this confidential information.
This bill allows courts to transfer ownership of a wireless phone number and its billing responsibility to victims of domestic violence or stalking who are not the account holder. Upon a victim's request and after a final restraining order is issued, the court can order the phone provider to transfer the number directly to the victim. The victim then assumes all future costs for the phone, service, and devices, and the provider must notify the court and victim within 72 hours if they cannot complete the transfer due to technical issues. The bill ensures victim contact information remains private during proceedings and requires providers to follow standard account setup procedures for the transfer.
This bill amends New Jersey's Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991 to explicitly include elder abuse and abuse of the disabled in domestic settings under the law's definition of "domestic violence." It directly affects elderly and disabled individuals who experience abuse from family members or caregivers in their homes. The key provision clarifies that existing legal protections - including restraining orders, criminal penalties, and law enforcement responses - now apply equally to elder abuse cases as they do to other domestic violence cases. This change ensures consistent legal recourse without creating new offenses, aligning the Act's scope with its original intent to protect vulnerable residents. The bill does not alter criminal statutes but makes the existing law clearer for victims and authorities.
This bill (A4431) upgrades the offense of stalking when the victim is under 18 years old from a fourth-degree to a third-degree crime in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals who stalk minors, increasing penalties to a maximum of 3-5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine for such offenses. The key provision amends New Jersey's stalking statute (P.L.1992, c.209) to specify that stalking a minor automatically elevates the charge to third degree, regardless of prior offenses. This change applies immediately upon enactment, without requiring additional court orders or prior convictions.
This bill allows New Jersey residents to apply for special license plates featuring a purple ribbon and the phrase "Domestic Violence Awareness" on their vehicles. Vehicle owners would pay a one-time $50 application fee and an annual $10 fee, with the collected funds (after covering administrative costs) deposited into a dedicated fund. The fund, managed by the Department of Children and Families, provides annual grants to nonprofit organizations supporting domestic violence victims. The plates aim to raise public awareness while generating revenue specifically for victim services, with no state funds used for initial implementation costs.
This bill changes the process for denying firearm permits in New Jersey. It requires the chief of police or State Police superintendent to prove an applicant meets one of the disqualification reasons (like a criminal conviction or domestic violence offense) if their permit to purchase a handgun or firearms purchaser ID card is denied. Previously, applicants may have had to prove they didn't qualify for denial. The bill does not change the list of disqualifying conditions but shifts the burden of proof to the issuing authority. This directly affects individuals whose applications are rejected for firearm permits or ID cards.
This bill (A 3349) amends New Jersey law to explicitly include "emergency, transitional, and permanent housing" as a funded service for domestic violence victims through the existing "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund." The Fund, managed by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, is financed by civil penalties ($50-$500) from domestic violence convictions and other designated moneys. It directly affects victims of domestic violence by ensuring these housing needs are covered alongside existing services like shelter, food, utilities, and legal assistance. The change clarifies that housing must be funded from this dedicated account, not other general funds.
