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A 5193

Relates to certain reimbursement rates

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe DeStefano

The bill forbids private entities from paying to hide or destroy evidence and lets crime victims sue for civil remedies, strengthening private enforcement against obstructing inves

REFERRED TO CORRECTION
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Bill Summary · A 5193

Summary of Bill A 5193 (New Jersey)

Overview

A 5193 is a bill introduced on January 16, 2025, and currently referred to Correction after initial referral from the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The bill seeks to prohibit and penalize arrangements in which private entities or individuals assist in concealing, altering, or destroying evidence to thwart law enforcement, in exchange for compensation. It draws on a concept similar to New York’s Cassie’s Law.

Sponsor: Joe DeStefano (primary)

Companion/related bills: S 4243 (companion); other related counterparts listed (S 61, S 61 companion; A 7514, etc.)

Status details: Introduced in the Assembly (1/16/2025); subsequently referred to Correction (2/12/2025).

Purpose and Intent

  • Prohibit contracts or promises (oral or written or implied) to render criminal assistance by private entities or individuals.
  • Create a private civil remedy for crime victims who were the subject of such arrangements.
  • Align with broader protections against interfering with law enforcement and ongoing investigations.

Key Provisions

  • Definitions

    • “Renders criminal assistance”: An act to prevent, hinder, or delay discovery or apprehension of an alleged offender who the actor knows or believes has committed a crime or is being sought for one, by concealing, altering, or destroying physical evidence, in exchange for money or non-monetary compensation.
    • “Private entity”: Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or other non-public entity.

  • Public policy and contract invalidation

    • Any undertaking or promise, whether spoken or written or implied, to render criminal assistance in the described manner is void and contrary to public policy.

  • Civil remedy for crime victims

    • A crime victim may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the individual or private entity that entered into the prohibited agreement.

  • Independence of remedies

    • The civil action under this provision is independent of and supplemental to other rights or remedies; it does not diminish rights or remedies available under other laws.

  • Statute of limitations (discovery rule)

    • The civil action must be commenced within five years from the date the crime victim discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the concealment.

  • Effective date

    • The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.

  • Legislative basis

    • The bill is described as modeled on “Cassie’s Law” from New York.

Affected Parties and Scope

  • Critically targets private entities and individuals who would receive compensation to assist in concealing, altering, or destroying evidence related to a crime.
  • Crime victims who were the subject of such agreements would have a private right of action to seek remedies.
  • Public entities are not defined as covered parties; the focus is on non-public/private actors.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: January 16, 2025 (Assembly).
  • Committee action: Referred to Assembly Judiciary, and later recorded as referred to Correction (February 12, 2025).
  • Immediate effectiveness: If enacted, the act would take effect immediately.

Potential Impact

  • Legal deterrence against paying or contracting to conceal crime evidence.
  • Provides a private enforcement channel for crime victims, potentially increasing accountability for involved private entities.
  • Could affect negotiations, settlements, or business practices where reputational or legal risk considerations are significant.
  • May interact with other civil or criminal remedies, given its independent, supplementary nature.

Notes

  • Language focuses on acts of concealment, alteration, or destruction of evidence in exchange for compensation.
  • The bill explicitly voids the contract or promise and enables a private civil action, without detailing damages or remedies beyond typical civil action availability.

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

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