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Bill > S4584
NJ S4584
NJ S4584Creates penalty for failure to cooperate with child abuse investigations; upgrades penalties for failure to report child abuse.
summary
Introduced
06/05/2025
06/05/2025
In Committee
06/05/2025
06/05/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill creates a penalty for failing to cooperate with a child abuse or neglect investigation and upgrades the penalties for failure to report child abuse and failure to report sexual abuse. Under current law, any person who violates the provisions of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.8 et seq., which includes the failure to report an act of child abuse, and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of child abuse has been committed, is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. This bill upgrades the penalty to a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by incarceration for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under current law, any person who knowingly fails to report an act of sexual abuse against a child and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse has been committed is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. This bill upgrades the penalty to a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by incarceration for a term of between three and five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Finally, this bill amends current law to provide that any person who knowingly fails to cooperate with an investigation of child abuse or neglect conducted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or any other entity in the Department of Children and Families as may be designated by the Commissioner of Children and Families, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
AI Summary
This bill enhances legal penalties related to child abuse reporting and investigations in New Jersey. Under the proposed changes, individuals who fail to report child abuse would now be charged with a fourth-degree crime instead of a disorderly persons offense, which increases potential penalties to up to 18 months of incarceration and/or a fine of up to $10,000. For cases specifically involving sexual abuse against a child, the penalty is further upgraded from a fourth-degree to a third-degree crime, which carries a potential prison sentence of three to five years and/or a fine up to $15,000. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision making it a fourth-degree crime to knowingly fail to cooperate with child abuse or neglect investigations conducted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency or other designated entities within the Department of Children and Families. These changes aim to strengthen legal consequences for individuals who do not fulfill their responsibilities in protecting children from abuse and neglect, potentially creating stronger deterrents and accountability mechanisms.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee (on 06/05/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S4584 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/S5000/4584_I1.HTM |
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