ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 431

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 1, 2018

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 431.

     This bill would expand the wiretap statutes to authorize wiretap orders for investigation of the following crimes or a conspiracy to commit them: luring or enticing a child, impersonation or theft of identity, stalking, and cyber-harassment.

     Current law authorizes wiretap orders for investigations of the following crimes or a conspiracy to commit them: murder; kidnapping; gambling; robbery; bribery; certain aggravated assault offenses; health care claims fraud; certain wrongful credit practices; money laundering; terrorism; false public alarms; causing or risking widespread injury or damage; certain damages to nuclear electric generating plants; terroristic threats; leader of a narcotics trafficking network; maintaining or operating an unlawful CDS production facility; unlawfully manufacturing, distributing or dispensing CDS; certain violations of the Casino Control Act; human trafficking; certain prostitution offenses; arson; burglary; certain theft offenses; endangering the welfare of a child; escape; certain forgery and fraudulent practices; alteration of motor vehicle identification numbers; unlawful manufacture, purchase, use, or transfer of firearms; unlawful possession or use of destructive devices or explosives; weapons training for illegal activities; racketeering; leader of organized crime, and organized criminal activity concerning certain hazardous substances.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2018-2019 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.