ASSEMBLY SENIOR ISSUES, TOURISM AND GAMING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 861

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 16, 1996

      The Assembly Senior Issues, Tourism and Gaming Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly, No. 861.

      This bill enacts the "Senior Citizens Protection Act," which authorizes municipalities to create senior citizen zones. A senior citizen zone is defined as an area designated by the governing body of a municipality where 70% of the population is 62 or more years of age.

      Under the provisions of the bill, any person who is convicted of a crime of violence against a senior citizen, including, but not limited to, murder, manslaughter, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, and robbery, in an adult day care facility, on any property on which an adult day care facility is located, in any housing for older persons or in any area designated as a senior citizen zone, or within 1,000 feet of those areas, must serve a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment. The term of imprisonment shall be fixed at three-fourths of the sentence imposed or one year, whichever is greater, during which time that person shall be ineligible for parole.

      The bill also bans all plea bargaining in cases where the defendant commits a crime in or near an adult care facility, housing for older persons or a senior citizen zone.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to clarify the descriptions of the locations within which the provisions of the bill are applicable and the period of mandatory imprisonment.