Bill > A1426

Introduced Session

This bill provides that the court may require the appropriate agency to provide counseling to children who were either physically present at the time of an act of domestic violence or who may have seen or heard an act of domestic violence. Current law provides that pursuant to P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-28), once a domestic violence complaint is filed, the victim and the abuser should be advised of any programs or services available for advice and counseling. The bill provides that in addition the victim and the abuser will be advised of any programs or services available for counseling for any minor children who were either physically present at the time of the alleged act of domestic violence or who may have seen or heard the alleged act of domestic violence set forth in the complaint. Once a final hearing is held pursuant to P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-29), the court may issue an order granting any or all of the relief set forth in subsection b., which includes, but is not limited to, restraining the defendant from subjecting the victim to domestic violence, requiring the defendant to pay to the victim monetary compensation for losses suffered as a result of the domestic violence, and restraining the defendant from making contact with the plaintiff and others. The bill expands the list of relief that the court may order by requiring the appropriate agency to provide counseling for any minor children who were either physically present at the time of the act of domestic violence or who may have seen or heard the act of domestic violence.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Annette Chaparro (D)*,  Angela Mcknight (D)*,  Gabriela Mosquera (D)*,  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Shanique Speight (D), 

Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading (on 05/16/2019)