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Bill

A 1801

Relates to purchases of ammunition

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Angelino and 21 co-sponsors

Creates a publicly accessible DV Internet registry with offender details to inform the public and aid law enforcement.

REFERRED TO CODES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 1801

Summary: Bill A 1801 – Stephanie’s Law (Domestic Violence Internet Registry)

Overview

Bill A 1801, introduced January 9, 2024 and currently referred to CODES, would create a new, publicly accessible domestic violence Internet registry (the “Internet registry”) to complement New Jersey’s existing DV registries. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), in coordination with the Attorney General, would develop and maintain the registry. Law enforcement officers would be required to check both the new Internet registry and the existing central DV registry at arrest. The measure is named “Stephanie’s Law,” in honor of a domestic violence victim, and aims to enhance transparency and public access to information about individuals with DV-related convictions or restraining orders.

What the bill does (Key Provisions)

  • Creation and governance

    • Establishes a publicly-accessible DV Internet registry, managed by the AOC with the Attorney General.
    • The Internet registry is separate from the DV central registry (C.2C:25-34) which remains in the AOC and is not publicly accessible.

  • Who is listed in the registry

    • Individuals who meet any of the following:
    • Convicted of a crime or offense involving domestic violence (as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19).
    • Have had a final restraining order issued against them under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991.
    • Have committed contempt of a temporary or final restraining order under the same Act.

  • Information included for each person

    • Name and all aliases.
    • Brief description of the DV offense, disposition dates, and a general description of the person’s modus operandi, if applicable.
    • Demographics: age, race, gender, date of birth, height, weight, hair/eye color, distinguishing scars or tattoos.
    • Photograph and the date the photo was entered.
    • Vehicle information: make, model, color, year, and license plate number.
    • Last known address.

  • Removal and corrections

    • Individuals erroneously included may petition the AOC for removal.
    • AOC must remove a name if the person:
    • Has not had a final DV restraining order entered against them; or
    • Has not been found guilty of contempt for violating a DV restraining order; or
    • Has not been found guilty of a DV offense.
    • If a person’s address changes, they must notify the AOC within five days.

  • Public-facing information and procedures

    • The public-facing website must explain how to petition for removal, circumstances for grant of a removal petition, and how to update addresses.

  • Law enforcement integration

    • At arrest, a police officer must determine whether a DV restraining order exists for the arrested person by checking both the central DV registry (C.2C:25-34) and the new Internet registry (pending under this bill).

  • Regulatory authority

    • The Attorney General may promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the act.

  • Effective date

    • The act would take effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment.

Who is affected

  • Individuals convicted of DV offenses, those with final DV restraining orders, and those found in contempt for DV restraining orders.
  • The Administrative Office of the Courts and the Attorney General (administrative implementation and rulemaking).
  • Law enforcement agencies conducting arrests in cases involving potential DV violations.
  • Members of the public who seek information about individuals on the registry.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Status: Referred to CODES; introduced in the Assembly on January 9, 2024.
  • Related legislation: Companion Senate bill S 2050; related A and S companions noted (A 8085, S 1154).
  • If enacted, the bill would take effect seven months after enactment.

Context and potential impact

  • Intent: Increase transparency and public access to DV-related information to enhance safety and awareness for victims and communities.
  • Distinctions from existing registries: Public DV Internet registry would be separate from the non-public DV central registry; aims to provide more readily accessible information to the public.
  • Considerations: Data privacy and accuracy concerns typical of public registries (accuracy of photos, addresses, vehicle data; procedures for removing erroneous entries).

This summary captures the bill’s core purpose, provisions, affected stakeholders, and key procedural elements based on the introduced text and related materials.

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

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