Bill Text: NJ A1771 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Clarifies that permitting sexual abusers to reside with a child constitutes endangering welfare of a child.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A1771 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A1771-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY F. MUNOZ
District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Clarifies that permitting sexual abusers to reside with a child constitutes endangering welfare of a child.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning endangering the welfare of a child and amending N.J.S.2C:24-4.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.2C:24‑4 is amended to read as follows:
2C:24‑4. Endangering Welfare of Children.
a. Any person having a legal duty for the care of a child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of a child who engages in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child, or who knowingly allows a person who has committed a sex offense as defined in section 2 of P.L.1994, c.133 (C.2C:7-2) against a child to reside in a house or dwelling with a child, or who causes the child harm that would make the child an abused or neglected child as defined in R.S.9:6‑1, R.S.9:6‑3 and P.L.1974, c.119, s.1 (C.9:6‑8.21) is guilty of a crime of the second degree. Any other person who engages in conduct or who causes harm as described in this subsection to a child under the age of 16 is guilty of a crime of the third degree.
b. (1) As used in this subsection:
"Child" means any person under 16 years of age.
"Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and non‑federal interoperable packet switched data networks.
"Prohibited sexual act" means
(a) Sexual intercourse; or
(b) Anal intercourse; or
(c) Masturbation; or
(d) Bestiality; or
(e) Sadism; or
(f) Masochism; or
(g) Fellatio; or
(h) Cunnilingus;
(i) Nudity, if depicted for the purpose of sexual stimulation or gratification of any person who may view such depiction; or
(j) Any act of sexual penetration or sexual contact as defined in N.J.S.2C:14‑1.
"Reproduction" means, but is not limited to, computer generated images.
(2) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2001, c.291).
(3) A person commits a crime of the second degree if he causes or permits a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act if the person knows, has reason to know or intends that the prohibited act may be photographed, filmed, reproduced, or reconstructed in any manner, including on the Internet, or may be part of an exhibition or performance. If the person is a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the care or custody of the child, the person shall be guilty of a crime of the first degree.
(4) Any person who photographs or films a child in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act or who uses any device, including a computer, to reproduce or reconstruct the image of a child in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act is guilty of a crime of the second degree.
(5) (a) Any person who knowingly receives for the purpose of selling or who knowingly sells, procures, manufactures, gives, provides, lends, trades, mails, delivers, transfers, publishes, distributes, circulates, disseminates, presents, exhibits, advertises, offers or agrees to offer, through any means, including the Internet, any photograph, film, videotape, computer program or file, video game or any other reproduction or reconstruction which depicts a child engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act, is guilty of a crime of the second degree.
(b) Any person who knowingly possesses or knowingly views any photograph, film, videotape, computer program or file, video game or any other reproduction or reconstruction which depicts a child engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act, including on the Internet, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
(6) For purposes of this subsection, a person who is depicted as or presents the appearance of being under the age of 16 in any photograph, film, videotape, computer program or file, video game or any other reproduction or reconstruction shall be rebuttably presumed to be under the age of 16. If the child who is depicted as engaging in, or who is caused to engage in, a prohibited sexual act or simulation of a prohibited sexual act is under the age of 16, the actor shall be strictly liable and it shall not be a defense that the actor did not know that the child was under the age of 16, nor shall it be a defense that the actor believed that the child was 16 years of age or older, even if such a mistaken belief was reasonable.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.291. s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends N.J.S.2C:24-4 to clarify that knowingly allowing a person who has committed a sex offense against a child to reside in a house or dwelling with a child is endangerment to the welfare of a child.
Endangering the welfare of a child is a crime of the second degree if committed by any person having legal duty for the care of the child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of the child. For all other persons, endangering the welfare of a child is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a fine of up to $150,000, five to 10 years imprisonment, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, three to five years imprisonment, or both.
