ASSEMBLY, No. 398

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblywoman HECK

An Act concerning child abuse and neglect and amending P.L.1974, c.119.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 33 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.53) is amended to read as follows:

    33. a. If the order of disposition releases the child to the custody of his parent or guardian responsible for his care at the time of the filing of the complaint, the court may place the child under supervision of the division or may enter an order of protection under section 35 [hereof] of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.55).

    b. The court shall define permissible terms and conditions of supervision under this section. The maximum duration of any such term or condition shall not exceed a period of [1 year] two years, unless the court finds at the conclusion of that period of [1 year] two years, upon a hearing, that exceptional circumstances require an extension thereof for an additional year.

(cf: P.L.1974, c.119, s.33)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill extends from one to two years the maximum duration of the period for which the court may place a child, who has been released to the custody of a parent or guardian after a dispositional hearing on a complaint of child abuse or neglect, under the supervision of the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) of the

Department of Human Services (except for exceptional circumstances).

Extends maximum period of DYFS supervision of a child from one to two years.