SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 1297

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: MARCH 20, 1997

 

 

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1297.

      Presently, N.J.S.2C:34-5 provides that it is a petty disorderly persons offense if a person commits an act of sexual penetration knowing that he or she is infected with a venereal disease. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to thirty days imprisonment, a fine up to $500.00, or both. This bill would increase the penalty for this offense to a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to eighteen months imprisonment, a fine of up to $7,500.00, or both.

      The committee adopted amendments that would classify an act of sexual penetration by a person who knows he is infected by AIDS as a crime of the third degree. Crimes of the third degree are punishable by between 3 and 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $7,500.00 or both.