A-1771

Sponsored by: Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by: Assemblywomen Timberlake, Haider and Park

STATEMENT

This bill is intended to protect the children and youth of this State by prohibiting sex offenders from holding jobs which primarily consist of contact with children.

The bill defines a "primarily consists of contact with children" as a job where 80 percent or more of the actual or official duties or responsibilities include contact with a child.

"Sex offender" is defined as a person who has been convicted, adjudicated delinquent or found not guilty by reason of insanity for committing a broad range of sexual offenses as defined in the sex offender registration law (Megan's Law).

Under the bill, it would be crime of the third degree for a sex offender to hold a job which primarily consists of contact with children. It would also be a crime of the third degree for a person to knowingly hire a sex offender for a job which primarily consists of contact with children.

A crime of the third degree carries a penalty of three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.