Bill > A851

Introduced Session

Under current law, it is a crime of the third degree for any person to distribute, dispense, or possess with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance while on, or within 1,000 feet of, an elementary or secondary school, school board, or school bus. In a recent case, State v. Shelle the New Jersey Supreme Court decided that child care centers, even those that operate small kindergarten classes, are not considered schools for the purposes of the existing drug free school zone law. This bill would expand drug free school zones to include property owned or leased by licensed child care centers and the 500 feet surrounding such a child care center. Child care centers include day care centers, drop-in centers, nighttime centers, recreation centers, day nurseries, nursery and play schools, cooperative child centers, centers for children with special needs, centers serving sick children, infant-toddler programs, school age child care programs, employer supported centers, and kindergartens that are not an integral part of a private educational institution.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Annette Chaparro (D)*,  Cleopatra Tucker (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee (on 01/11/2022)

Official Document