SENATE WOMEN'S ISSUES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 768

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: JUNE 6, 1996

 

      The Senate Women's Issues, Children and Family Services Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 768 with committee amendments.

      A common experience of battered women is that for years after they end an abusive relationship they must avoid their abusers or be in danger. Many of them assume new names, move far away, and take other steps to keep their location a secret from the former husband or lover. Abusers are so persistent that in some cases it has been dangerous for women to make their addresses public for even the most important reasons. When the danger threatened their right to vote (because registration requires a complete and verified address, and the registration lists are public), New Jersey courts found that the State had to accommodate the victims.

      As amended, this bill establishes the "Address Confidentiality Program" in the Department of State. The purpose of the program is to assist persons who are victims of domestic violence in establishing and maintaining a confidential address to prevent their assailant from finding them. The bill would further enable public agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing the location of a victim of domestic violence.

      Under the bill, upon the filing of an application and acceptance into the program, the Secretary of State shall certify that the applicant is a program participant for a period of up to three years. A participant may reapply for recertification at the end of that time period. Participation in the program permits the applicant to request the use of the designated address as the participant's address by State and local agencies, except where disclosure is mandated by law. Under the program, first class mail addressed to a program participant shall be forwarded to the actual address of the participant by the secretary or a designee.

      The program established by the bill is similar to a procedure available in Washington to protect victims of domestic violence.

      The committee amended the bill allow law enforcement officers to have access to the actual addresses of the participants of the Address Confidentiality Program for law enforcement purposes.