SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 187
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: FEBRUARY 10, 1997
The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 187.
This bill would establish a new criminal offense dealing with violations of public health and safety statutes. Under this new offense, a person would be guilty of a crime if the person knowingly violated a law intended to protect public safety or health or knowingly failed to perform a duty imposed by such a statute. This bill also amends N.J.S.2C:2-1, which deals with omission of a duty as a basis for criminal liability, to include reference to the "Uniform Fire Safety Act" (N.J.S.A.52:27D-192 et seq.), the "Uniform Construction Code Act" (N.J.S.A.52:270-119 et seq.) and any other law intended to protect public health and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
The committee amended the bill toprovide that if a person knowingly violates a health or safety statutes and thereby recklessly causes death, the person would be guilty of a crime of the second degree. If the violation causes serious bodily injury, the person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. If the violation causes significant bodily injury, the person would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, this bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.