ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 1347
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: MAY 13, 1996
The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1347.
Assembly Bill No. 1347 enacts a new chapter, Chapter 4, in Title 47 of the Revised Statutes to establish the "Address Confidentiality Program" for victims of domestic violence.
The bill establishes the "Address Confidentiality Program" in the Department of State. The purpose of the program is to assist persons who are the victims of domestic violence in establishing and maintaining a confidential address to prevent their assailants from finding them. The program will enable public agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing the location of a victim of domestic violence.
Under the provisions of the bill, upon the filing of an application and acceptance into the program, the Secretary of State is to certify that the applicant is a participant. The certification is to remain valid for a period of three years. Participants may apply for recertification. There is no restriction on the number of recertifications a participant may receive. Participation in the program permits the victims of domestic violence to request the use of a designated address as their address for State and local agencies, except in those instances where disclosure is mandated by law. Under the program, first class mail addressed to a participant would be delivered to the designated address and then forwarded by the Secretary of State , or a designee, to the participant. The participant may arrange to have the Secretary of State receive and forward other kinds and classes of mail.
A similar procedure was established in the State of Washington to protect the victims of domestic violence.
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996 legislative session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.