Bill > A1323

Introduced Session

This bill would require a physician or other medical professional, victim counselor, guidance counselor, mental health professional, or any other person with reasonable cause to believe that a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence to report the same to a local law enforcement agency. The same individuals required to report under the bill would also receive immunity for reporting. Currently, N.J.S.A.2C:25-22 provides civil immunity to any law enforcement officer, member of a domestic crisis team or any person who, good faith, reports a possible incident of domestic violence to the police. This bill provides that those persons who are required to report in their capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, facility or agency, would immediately notify the person in charge of such institution, facility or agency, or the designated agent, who then also shall become responsible to report or cause to reports to be made. The law enforcement agency which takes a domestic violence incident report would be required to forward the information to the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs and the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to be entered in the domestic violence registry. Failure to report. Any person who knowingly fails to report an act of domestic violence while having reasonable cause to believe that a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence, would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 6 months, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

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Gabriela Mosquera (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee (on 01/14/2020)