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S 2051

Relates to allowing bed and breakfasts to sell cider, liquor, beer and wine

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lea Webb

NJ law requires officers to use a validated domestic violence risk assessment and, if elevated risk is found, notify the victim and facilitate immediate services.

REFERRED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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Bill Summary · S 2051

Summary — S.2051 (Reprint SBA 6/26/25)

Title: Requires law enforcement officers to conduct risk assessments of and provide assistance to victims of domestic violence

Main purpose

To require New Jersey law enforcement officers to use an objective, evidence‑based domestic violence risk assessment when they have reasonable cause to believe a person is a victim of domestic violence, and to ensure victims deemed at elevated risk are notified and offered immediate services. The bill also strengthens related training for law enforcement and court personnel.

Key provisions

  • Risk assessment requirement

    • A law enforcement officer must conduct a domestic violence risk assessment (with the alleged victim’s consent) whenever the officer has reasonable cause to believe the person is a domestic violence victim.
    • The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) is specified as the currently approved instrument; the Attorney General may approve alternative validated instruments in the future.
    • An approved instrument must generate a score or rating indicating whether there is an elevated risk of serious bodily injury or death from future domestic violence and must capture incident details (dates, descriptions, injuries, firearm/weapon use), including use of a calendar to identify dates of recent acts.

  • Response when risk is elevated

    • If an assessment indicates elevated risk, the officer must notify the victim of that finding.
    • With the victim’s consent, the officer must facilitate immediate assistance (e.g., domestic crisis team or other victim services).
    • Committee amendments further require, consistent with AG rules and Rules of Court, charging the defendant by complaint‑warrant where appropriate.

  • Immediate need determination

    • Regardless of the assessment score, officers must determine if the victim is in immediate need of services and facilitate provision of those services.

  • Training and implementation

    • The Director of the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) must evaluate and update training related to ODARA and domestic violence.
    • If an alternative instrument is approved, DCJ must develop and approve a training course and curriculum for it within 60 days of approval.
    • The Attorney General must incorporate instruction on conducting the assessment and on notifying/facilitating services into law enforcement domestic violence training.
    • The Administrative Director of the Courts must include training on the approved risk assessment for judges and court personnel (training reviewed/updated periodically).

Who is affected

  • Victims of domestic violence (more systematic risk screening and access facilitation)
  • State, county, and municipal law enforcement (new duties and training)
  • Division of Criminal Justice and Department of Law & Public Safety (training oversight; tool evaluation)
  • Administrative Office of the Courts, judges, and court personnel (additional training needs)
  • Domestic violence service providers and domestic crisis teams (likely increased referrals)

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Office of Legislative Services estimates indeterminate annual State and local expenditure increases.
    • Costs may include developing/updating training, periodic evaluation of assessment tools, and ongoing officer training if tools change.
    • Facilitating immediate services and conducting assessments may lengthen officer response times, producing additional labor/administrative costs for law enforcement agencies.
    • OLS referenced domestic violence filing counts (FY2023–FY2024 ~52–54k filings) to note potential scale, but precise costs are indeterminate.

Legislative status & timeline highlights

  • Introduced (NJ): Jan 9, 2024; reported favorably out of Senate committees (Judiciary; Budget & Appropriations with amendments).
  • Passed Senate: 39–0 (June 30, 2025).
  • Referred to Assembly committees (Appropriations / Economic Development references in procedural history); hearings scheduled (e.g., Sept. 9, 2025 per docket).
  • Committee amendments: clarified procedures, designated ODARA as current instrument, allowed future alternatives, required training updates and 60‑day development for new tools, removed Board references, and changed terminology from “danger assessment” to “risk assessment.”

Notes: The bill amends/supplements existing domestic violence statutory training framework (P.L.1991, c.261) to integrate standardized risk assessments and related victim‑service facilitation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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