summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill creates the offense of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly. Under the bill, a person obtains property by financial exploitation of the elderly when, being a person in a position of trust, he compels or induces an elderly person to deliver such property to him or to a third person by means of fraud, false promise, extortion or intimidation. "Elderly person" is defined as any person who is 60 years of age or older and is suffering from a disease or infirmity associated with advanced age or who suffers from a mental disease, defect or condition which renders the person incapable of deciding whether to give or withhold consent to taking, obtaining or withholding of his or her property. A "person in a position of trust" means a person who: (a) is the parent, spouse, adult child or other relative by blood or affinity of an elderly person; or (b) is a joint tenant or tenant in common with an elderly person; or (c) has a fiduciary obligation to an elderly person; or (d) receives monetary or other valuable consideration for providing care for the elderly person; or (e) lives with or provides some component of home care services on a continuing basis to the elderly person including, but not limited to, a neighbor or friend who does not provide such services but has access to the elderly person based on such relationship. The offense is graded as a crime of the third degree punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both when the amount involved is at least $200.00 but does not exceed $500.00. Ordinarily thefts of this amount are graded as crimes of the fourth degree. The bill also upgrades theft when the amount is less than $200.00 to a crime of the fourth degree from a disorderly persons offense. Theft from an elderly person when the amount involved exceeds $500.00 but is less than $75,000.00 continues to be a crime of the third degree.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the crime of financial exploitation of the elderly, defining an "elderly person" as someone 60 or older who has a disease or infirmity associated with aging or a mental condition that makes them incapable of consenting to property transactions. A "person in a position of trust" is broadly defined to include relatives, joint tenants, those with fiduciary duties, caregivers receiving payment, and even neighbors or friends who live with or provide ongoing home care services to an elderly person, or who have access to them due to such a relationship. The bill makes it a crime for such a trusted individual to compel or induce an elderly person to give them property through fraud, false promises, extortion, or intimidation. This new offense is graded as a third-degree crime, carrying penalties of up to five years imprisonment and a $15,000 fine, when the amount involved is between $200 and $500, which is a higher grade than typical theft of that amount. Additionally, the bill upgrades theft of less than $200 from an elderly person to a fourth-degree crime, and theft exceeding $500 but less than $75,000 from an elderly person remains a third-degree crime.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (7)
Clinton Calabrese (D)*,
Gregory Myhre (R)*,
Brian Rumpf (R)*,
Margie Donlon (D),
Greg McGuckin (R),
Luanne Peterpaul (D),
Erik Simonsen (R),
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 01/13/2026)
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/2026/A2835 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A3000/2835_I1.HTM |
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