Bill
Bill > A2769
NJ A2769
NJ A2769Requires AOC, in conjunction with State Parole Board, to conduct comprehensive study on Megan's Law.
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 requires the Administrative Office of the Courts, in conjunction with the State Parole Board, to conduct a comprehensive study on Megan's Law, P.L.1994, c.128, P.L.1994, c.133, and P.L.2001, c.167. Under current law, the Violence Institute of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) was tasked in or about 2007 with conducting a study on the implementation and application of Megan's Law. However, it appears that this study was never completed or made publicly available. In 2013, UMDNJ was dissolved, and its components were mostly transferred to Rutgers University and Rowan University. This bill amends current law to place the onus on the Administrative Office of the Courts, in conjunction with the State Parole Board, to conduct this study. Under the bill, the study is to examine the implementation and application of Megan's Law, specifically regarding the registration of sex offenders and community notification for certain sex offenders. In addition, the study is to evaluate the current procedures utilized by the county prosecutors and the courts in determining a sex offender's tier designation and implementing community notification. In evaluating these procedures, the study is to examine the disposition of all sex offenders who have registered and have been assigned a tier rating since the enactment of Megan's Law, or from the earliest date permitted by the availability of reliable records. Additionally, the study is to make recommendations regarding the standardization of procedures for evaluating the risk of re-offense, assigning tier designations, implementing community notification, and ensuring uniform application of the Attorney General's guidelines by law enforcement in providing community notification. Furthermore, the study is to examine the use of the Internet registry in providing information to the public about sex offenders. Specifically, the study is to review the implementation of the Internet registry and determine whether the Internet registry has accomplished its mission to inform the public of dangerous sex offenders, or if geographic inconsistencies have mitigated its effectiveness. Finally, the study is to examine whether a central agency should be charged with the administration of Megan's Law and the determination as to which offenders should appear on the Internet registry.
AI Summary
This bill requires the Administrative Office of the Courts, working with the State Parole Board, to conduct a thorough study of Megan's Law, which deals with sex offender registration and community notification. This study will replace a previous one that was supposed to be done by the Violence Institute of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) but was never completed before UMDNJ was dissolved. The new study will examine how Megan's Law is put into practice, focusing on how sex offenders are registered and how the public is notified about certain offenders. It will also look at the current methods used by county prosecutors and courts to decide an offender's "tier designation" (a classification based on risk) and how community notifications are carried out, reviewing the outcomes for all registered offenders since Megan's Law was enacted. The study aims to recommend ways to standardize procedures for assessing re-offense risk, assigning tier designations, implementing community notifications, and ensuring law enforcement uniformly follows the Attorney General's guidelines. Additionally, it will investigate the effectiveness of the Internet registry in informing the public about sex offenders, considering if geographic inconsistencies have hindered its mission, and will explore whether a single agency should manage Megan's Law and decide who appears on the Internet registry. Finally, the Administrative Office of the Courts and the State Parole Board will be required to submit reports of their findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 12 months of the bill's enactment and every two years thereafter.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (2)
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/A2769 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A3000/2769_I1.HTM |
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