SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2595

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 21, 2019

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2595.

     Under current law, a person who holds or has held any public office, position, or employment is required to forfeit all of the person’s pension or retirement benefit upon conviction of certain enumerated crimes involving or touching such office, position or employment.  As amended by the committee, this bill would additionally require such forfeiture if the person is convicted of sexual contact, lewdness, or sexual assault when the offense is related directly to the person's performance in, or circumstances flowing from, the specific public office or employment held by the person. 

      The bill would also require such forfeiture if the person is convicted of the crime of corruption of public resources in the first degree. The crime is of the first degree when a person knowingly uses or makes disposition of a public resource valued at $500,000 or more for an unauthorized purpose, when that public resource is subject to an obligation to be used for a specified governmental function or public service.

      “Public resource” is defined in current law as any funds or property provided by the government, including (1) money paid by the government; (2) transfer by the government of an asset of value for less than fair market price; (3) fees, loans, or other obligations normally required for a contract, that are paid, reduced, or waived by the government; (4) money loaned by the government to be repaid on a contingent basis; (5) money loaned by an entity based upon a guarantee provided by the government; (6) grants awarded by the government; and (7) credits applied by the government against repayment obligations. 

      As amended, Senate Bill No. 2595 (1R) is identical to Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 3766 (1R) of 2018-2019.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENDS      The amendments remove harassment as an offense for which forfeiture of a pension is required if committed by a person who holds or has held a public office or position.