Bill Text: NJ S3114 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Increases penalty for improper use of food stamps; requires mandatory imprisonment for public officer or employee who misuses food stamps.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-10-18 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee [S3114 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3114-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Increases penalty for improper use of food stamps; requires mandatory imprisonment for public officer or employee who misuses food stamps.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the unauthorized use of food stamps, amending P.L.1993, c.13 and P.L.2007, c.49.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.1993, c.13 (C.2C:20-36) is amended to read as follows:
2. If the face value of food stamp coupons or an ATP card or benefit card is equal to or greater than $500, an individual shall be guilty of a crime of the second degree and if equal to or greater than $150 and less than $500, an individual shall be guilty of a crime of the [fourth] third degree if [he] the individual purposely or knowingly and without authorization:
a. Receives or uses the proceeds of food stamp coupons or an ATP card or benefit card for which [he] the individual has not applied or has not been approved by the department to use;
b. Engages in any transaction to convert food stamp coupons or an ATP card or benefit card to other property contrary to federal and State government rules and regulations governing the Work First New Jersey program, the federal food stamp program, the New Jersey Supplementary Food Stamp Program, or any other program included in the electronic benefit distribution system; or
c. Transfers food stamp coupons or an ATP card or benefit card to another person who is not lawfully entitled or approved by the department to use the coupons or ATP card or benefit card.
(cf: P.L.1998, c.32, s.8)
2. Section 3 of P.L.1993, c.13 (C.2C:20-37) is amended to read as follows:
3. If the face value of food stamp coupons or an ATP card or benefit card is less than $150, an individual shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree [disorderly persons offense] if [he] the individual purposely or knowingly and without authorization:
a. Receives or uses the proceeds of food stamp coupons or an ATP card or benefit card for which [he] the individual has not applied or has not been approved, by the department, to use;
b. Engages in any transaction to convert food stamp coupons or an ATP card or benefit card to other property contrary to federal and State government rules and regulations governing the Work First New Jersey program, the federal food stamp program, the New Jersey Supplementary Food Stamp Program, or any other program included in the electronic benefit distribution system; or
c. Transfers food stamp coupons or an ATP card or benefit card to another person who is not lawfully entitled or approved, by the department, to use the coupons or ATP card or benefit card.
(cf: P.L.1998, c.32, s.9)
3. Section 6 of P.L.2007, c.49 (C.2C:43-6.5) is amended to read as follows:
6. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-6 and except as otherwise provided in subsection c. of this section, a person who serves or has served as a public officer or employee under the government of this State, or any political subdivision thereof, who is convicted of a crime that involves or touches such office or employment as set forth in subsection b. of this section, shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment without eligibility for parole as follows: for a crime of the fourth degree, the mandatory minimum term shall be one year; for a crime of the third degree, two years; for a crime of the second degree, five years; and for a crime of the first degree, 10 years; unless the provisions of any other law provide for a higher mandatory minimum term. As used in this subsection, "a crime that involves or touches such office or employment" means that the crime was related directly to the person's performance in, or circumstances flowing from, the specific public office or employment held by the person.
b. Subsection a. of this section applies to a conviction of any of the following crimes:
(1) Paragraph (4) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:13-5, criminal coercion;
(2) N.J.S.2C:20-4, theft by deception, if the amount involved exceeds $10,000;
(3) Subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:20-5, theft by extortion;
(4) N.J.S.2C:20-9, theft by failure to make required disposition of property received, if the amount involved exceeds $10,000;
(5) N.J.S.2C:21-10, commercial bribery;
(6) Section 3 of P.L.1994, c.121 (C.2C:21-25), money laundering;
(7) Section 97 of P.L.1999, c.440 (C.2C:21-34), false contract payment claims;
(8) N.J.S.2C:27-2, bribery in official matters;
(9) N.J.S.2C:27-3, threats and other improper influence in official and political matters;
(10) Section 100 of P.L.1999, c.440 (C.2C:27-9), unlawful official business transaction where interest is involved;
(11) Section 5 of P.L.2003, c.255 (C.2C:27-10), acceptance or receipt of unlawful benefit by public servant for official behavior;
(12) Section 6 of P.L.2003, c.255 (C.2C:27-11), offer of unlawful benefit to public servant for official behavior;
(13) N.J.S.2C:28-1, perjury;
(14) N.J.S.2C:28-5, tampering with witnesses;
(15) N.J.S.2C:28-7, tampering with public records or information;
(16) N.J.S.2C:29-4, compounding;
(17) N.J.S.2C:30-2, official misconduct;
(18) N.J.S.2C:30-3, speculating or wagering on official action or information; [or]
(19) Section 3 of P.L.2003, c.31 (C.2C:30-7), pattern of official misconduct; or
(20) Section 2 of P.L.1993, c.13 (C.2C:20-36) and section 3 of P.L.1993, c.13 (C.2C:20-37), unauthorized use of food stamp coupons, ATP card, or benefit card.
c. (1) On motion by the prosecutor stating that the defendant has provided substantial assistance in a criminal investigation or prosecution of another person, the court may waive or reduce the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment required by subsection a. of this section. The appropriate waiver or reduction shall be determined by the court for reasons stated that may include, but are not limited to, consideration of the following:
(i) the court's evaluation of the significance and usefulness of the defendant's assistance, giving substantial weight to the prosecutor's evaluation of the assistance rendered;
(ii) the truthfulness, completeness, and reliability of any information or testimony provided by the defendant;
(iii) the nature and extent of the defendant's assistance;
(iv) any injury suffered, or any danger or risk of injury to the defendant or his family resulting from his assistance;
(v) the timeliness of the defendant's assistance.
In making such a determination, the court shall give substantial weight to the prosecutor's evaluation of the extent of the defendant's assistance, particularly where the extent and value of the assistance are difficult to ascertain.
(2) If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that extraordinary circumstances exist such that imposition of a mandatory minimum term would be a serious injustice which overrides the need to deter such conduct in others, the court may waive or reduce the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment required by subsection a. of this section. In making any such finding, the court must state with specificity its reasons for waiving or reducing the mandatory minimum sentence that would otherwise apply.
(3) If, pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, the court waives or reduces the mandatory minimum term required by subsection a. of this section, such sentence shall not become final for 10 days in order to permit the appeal of the sentence by the prosecution.
d. (1) A prosecutor shall not recommend the admission into or consent to the referral to a pretrial intervention program of a person who serves or has served as a public officer or employee under the government of this State, or any political subdivision thereof, who is charged with a crime that involves or touches such office or employment as set forth in subsection b. of this section, without the prior approval of the Attorney General.
(2) A person who serves or has served as a public officer or employee under the government of this State, or any political subdivision thereof, who is convicted of a crime that involves or touches such office or employment as set forth in subsection b. of this section shall be ineligible for participation in any program of intensive supervision during any period of parole ineligibility.
e. The Attorney General shall develop guidelines to ensure the uniform exercise of discretion in making determinations regarding the waiver or reduction of a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection c. of this section and participation in a pretrial intervention program pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection d. of this section.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.49, s.6)
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill increases the penalty for the crime of unauthorized use of food stamps. Misuse of food stamps that have a face value of over $500 is a crime of the second degree, between $150 and $500 is a crime of the third degree, and below $150 is a crime of the fourth degree.
The bill requires that a public officer or employee of the State who misuses food stamps be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment. For a crime of the fourth degree, the mandatory minimum term is one year; for a crime of the third degree, two years; and for a crime of the second degree, five years.
