Bill

Bill > S4210


NJ S4210

NJ S4210
Establishes pilot program in Paterson authorizing non-disclosure of records of certain expungements.


summary

Introduced
03/03/2025
In Committee
03/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill would establish a five-year pilot program for the City of Paterson concerning the disclosure and application of expunged records and information for persons seeking employment within its municipal court system or any of its law enforcement or corrections agencies. Under the bill, for a period of five years, the provisions of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:52-27, requiring that a person seeking certain employment within the municipality's municipal court system or law enforcement or corrections agencies disclose expunged records and information, and requiring that those expunged materials continue to provide a disability notwithstanding the expungement, would only apply to records and information related to a person's conviction for an indictable offense (a crime of the fourth degree or higher). The provisions of the bill do not apply to records and information: (1) related to a person's arrest or charge for a crime, offense, or violation of a municipal ordinance not resulting in a conviction or finding of guilt; or (2) related to a person's conviction or finding of guilt for a disorderly persons offense, petty disorderly persons offense, or violation of a municipal ordinance. A person seeking employment within the municipal court system as a court director, court administrator, or deputy court administrator is excluded from the provisions of the bill. Under the bill, these individuals would continue to disclose expunged records and information in compliance with subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:52-27. At the conclusion of the five-year period, the City of Paterson would submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the implementation of the pilot program, which would include a recommendation on the advisability of the continuation, modification, expansion, or termination of the program.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a five-year pilot program in Paterson, New Jersey, aimed at modifying how expunged records are disclosed for certain employment opportunities in the municipal court system, law enforcement, and corrections agencies. Specifically, the bill seeks to reduce barriers to employment for individuals with non-serious criminal histories by limiting the disclosure requirements for expunged records. Under the pilot program, job applicants will no longer be required to disclose expunged records related to arrests that did not result in conviction, or convictions for minor offenses like disorderly persons offenses or municipal ordinance violations. However, individuals seeking high-level court administration positions must still disclose all expunged records, and those with convictions for indictable offenses (fourth degree or higher) must continue to disclose their records. The bill recognizes that many individuals with minor criminal histories are otherwise qualified for judicial and law enforcement positions and may be unfairly prevented from employment due to past records. At the conclusion of the five-year pilot program, the City of Paterson will be required to submit a comprehensive report to the Governor and Legislature evaluating the program's effectiveness and recommending whether it should be continued, modified, expanded, or terminated. The act will take effect 90 days after enactment.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 03/03/2025)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...