ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 967

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 1, 1996

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 967.

      This bill would prevent inmates in correctional facilities from changing their names at public expense. Currently, persons may apply to the court for indigency status, which if granted allows them to file court documents without paying filing fees. This procedure is available for all persons, including prisoners. This bill would prohibit prisoners from claiming indigency in order to obtain a waiver of fees for name change requests. Prisoners who wish to change their name will have to do so at their own expense, rather than at the taxpayers'.

      The committee amended the bill by deleting section 2 of the bill which would have provided for notification to the victim or a victim's parent or legal guardian if the perpetrator of certain crimes had changed his names.

      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.