Bill
A 563
Makes disclosure of domestic violence or sexual-assault victims’ personal information by public servants a second-degree official misconduct offense, regardless of value.
Status: Referred to Senate Consumer Protection (May 5, 2025)
Introduced: Jan 9, 2024 | Sponsor: Assemblymember Amy Paulin
Note on title discrepancy
- The bill header supplied names “Requires policies for the use of automatic license plate reader systems,” but the actual statutory text of A563/A563A amends N.J.S.2C:30-2 (official misconduct) to address disclosure of domestic violence and sexual‑assault victims’ personal information. This summary reflects the text of the bill as provided.
Purpose and intent
- To increase criminal penalties for public servants who disclose personal information of domestic violence or sexual‑assault victims by making such conduct official misconduct in the second degree, regardless of the monetary-value threshold that otherwise reduces the offense to a lower degree.
Key provisions
- Amends N.J.S.2C:30-2 (official misconduct).
- Current law: Official misconduct is generally a crime of the second degree, but if the benefit obtained (or sought) or harm caused is of a value of $200 or less, the offense is reduced to a crime of the third degree.
- Change made by this bill: Any official‑misconduct offense that involves the disclosure of a domestic violence or sexual‑assault victim’s “personal information” is classified as a crime of the second degree regardless of whether the monetary‑value threshold ($200) would otherwise reduce it to third degree.
- Defines “personal information” to include information that identifies, relates to, describes, or is capable of being associated with a person, including: name, signature, Social Security number, physical characteristics/description, address, telephone number, passport number, driver’s license or MVC non‑driver ID number, license plate number, employment and employment history, and financial information.
- Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Penalties (statutory consequences)
- Crime of the second degree: punishable by 5 to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both.
- Crime of the third degree (contrast): punishable by 3 to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. (The bill narrows the circumstances under which official misconduct can be treated as third degree.)
Who is affected
- Public servants (employees or officials whose actions or failures to act can constitute official misconduct).
- Domestic violence and sexual‑assault survivors whose personal information is protected.
- Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and public agencies that handle survivors’ personal data—may affect policies, training, and disciplinary practices.
Procedural/timeline highlights
- Introduced in Assembly Jan 9, 2024; referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee.
- Passed the Assembly and delivered to the Senate on May 5, 2025.
- Referred to the Senate Consumer Protection Committee (May 5, 2025).
- Print number amended as A563A (April 15, 2025).
- Related prior-session measures: A8349, A2615.
Potential impacts (practical effects)
- Raises criminal exposure and deterrence for public servants who improperly disclose sensitive survivor information.
- May prompt agencies to strengthen data‑handling policies, confidentiality training, and internal controls.
- Could affect prosecutorial charging decisions, increasing priority on cases involving disclosures of survivor personal data.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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