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Bill

A 2430

Relates to the establishment and the reporting of residential water cost indexes

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ed Braunstein and 1 co-sponsor

The bill tightens penalties for disclosing expunged records and requires record handlers to update, delete expunged data, and inform clients of collection dates.

ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.3
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Bill Summary · A 2430

Summary of Assembly Bill A 2430

Note: The bill text provided primarily concerns expungement orders and the dissemination of expunged records, not the stated title about residential water cost indexes. This summary focuses on the introduced provisions as set forth in the bill text.

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 2430
  • Title (as introduced): Relates to expungement orders (amending N.J.S.2C:52-30)
  • Purpose: Tighten penalties and add duties for individuals and entities that handle and disseminate criminal records, particularly regarding records that have been expunged or sealed.
  • Status: Advanced to Third Reading CAL.3 (as of January 30, 2025)
  • Introduced: January 9, 2024
  • Sponsors: Primary — Edward Braunstein; Cosponsor — Judy Griffin
  • Related bills: S 2253 (companion), plus several prior-session bills (A 7770, A 797, A 4172)

Key Provisions

1) Enhanced penalties for disclosing expunged records
- Current law: Offenders who knowingly disclose expunged or sealed records can be charged as a disorderly person with a maximum fine of $200.
- New standard (a): Increases the maximum fine to $2,000 for knowingly revealing the existence of expunged or sealed arrest, conviction, or related proceedings.

2) Duties for entities handling criminal records for a fee
- New duty (b): Any person or entity regularly engaged in collecting, assembling, evaluating, or disseminating criminal records for a fee must:
- Regularly update records to ensure accuracy
- Promptly delete records that have been expunged
- Provide clients with the date the record was collected
- Explain to clients that records are valid only as of the date collected

3) Penalties for disseminating expunged records by for-profit record businesses
- New duty (c): If a person or entity in the business disseminates an expunged record and knows or should have known at the time of dissemination that it has been expunged, they are liable to the individual for:
- A penalty of $5,000 or actual damages (whichever is greater)
- Plus costs and attorney fees

4) Effective date
- Effective date: The act would take effect on the 90th day following enactment.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Individuals with expunged or sealed records would gain stronger protections from improper disclosure and dissemination.
  • Private firms and individuals engaged in “background check” services or otherwise collecting/disseminating criminal records for a fee (data brokers, record publishers, etc.) would face stricter duties and higher potential penalties.
  • Employers and consumers relying on background checks may experience changes in the handling and timing of expunged-record information, due to the new duties and record-keeping requirements.

Procedural and Timeline Highlights

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024
  • Committee actions: Referred to Assembly Judiciary; later re-referenced and reported; advanced through the normal committee and floor process
  • Status update: Advanced to Third Reading CAL.3 on January 30, 2025
  • Enactment timeline: 90 days after enactment to take effect

Notes

  • The bill reinforces expungement privacy protections and increases accountability for entities that handle expunged criminal records.
  • Companion legislation exists in S 2253, indicating parallel consideration in the Senate.

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

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