Bill Text: NJ S1946 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Authorizes release of sex offender registration information to DHS and county welfare agencies.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-07 - Substituted by A2131 (1R) [S1946 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2012-S1946-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1946

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

215th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 17, 2012

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Senator  JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL

District 10 (Ocean)

Senator  FRED H. MADDEN, JR.

District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Authorizes release of sex offender registration information to DHS and county welfare agencies.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on January 28, 2013, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning sex offender registration records and amending P.L.1994, c.133.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  Section 5 of P.L.1994, c.133 (C.2C:7-5) is amended to read as follows:

     5.  a.  Records maintained pursuant to ¹[this act] P.L.1994, c.133 (C.2C:7-1 et seq.)¹ shall be open to any law enforcement agency in this State, the United States¹,¹ or any other state and may be released to:

     (1) the Division of ¹[Youth and Family Services] Child Protection and Permanency¹ in the Department of Children and Families for use in carrying out its responsibilities under law; and

     (2) the Department of Human Services and county and municipal welfare agencies for exclusive use in placing homeless families and persons in emergency shelters, which include but are not limited to, hotels and motels. 

     Law enforcement agencies in this State shall be authorized to release relevant and necessary information regarding sex offenders to the public when the release of the information is necessary for public protection in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1994, c.128 (C.2C:7-6 et seq.).

     b.  An elected public official, public employee, or public agency is immune from civil liability for damages for any discretionary decision to release relevant and necessary information, unless it is shown that the official, employee, or agency acted with gross negligence or in bad faith. The immunity provided under this section applies to the release of relevant information to other employees or officials or to the general public.

     c.  Nothing in ¹[this act] P.L.1994, c.133¹ shall be deemed to impose any liability upon or to give rise to a cause of action against any public official, public employee, or public agency for failing to release information as authorized in subsection d. of this section.

     d.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent law enforcement officers from notifying members of the public exposed to danger of any persons that pose a danger under circumstances that are not enumerated in ¹[this act] P.L.1994, c.133¹.

(cf: P.L.2012, c.16, s.5)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.