SENATE, No. 1510

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 19, 1996

By Senator BAER

An Act concerning the establishment of a criminal history background system and supplementing Title 52 of the New Jersey Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. A parent who is a party to a custody proceeding or order shall have access to information about criminal convictions or pending criminal charges filed against the other parent to the custody proceeding or order from the criminal history background system established by the Attorney General pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. )(now pending before the Legislature as section 2 of this bill).

    2. a. The Attorney General shall establish a criminal history background system for custody related matters.

    b. The Attorney General shall adopt guidelines providing for a criminal history background system which may be utilized by persons involved in a temporary custody order or a modification of an existing custody, partial custody or a visitation order.

    c. The following offenses shall be included in the criminal history background system:

    (1) N.J.S.2C:11-3, murder;

    (2) N.J.S.2C: 11-4, manslaughter;

    (3) N.J.S.2C:12-1b., aggravated assault;

    (4) N.J.S.2C:12-3, terroristic threats;

    (5) N.J.S.2C:12-10, stalking;

    (6) N.J.S.2C:13-1, kidnapping;

    (7) N.J.S.2C:13-2, criminal restraint;

    (8) N.J.S.2C:13-3, false imprisonment;

    (9) N.J.S.2C:14-2, aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault;

    (10) N.J.S.2C:14-3, aggravated criminal sexual contact and            criminal sexual contact;

    (11) N.J.S.2C:14-4, lewdness;

    (12) N.J.S.2C:17-1, arson and related offenses; and

    (13) N.J.S.2C:24-4, endangering the welfare of a child.

    d. The guidelines adopted by the Attorney General shall address the following matters:

    (1) The form of the application to be filed by the parent seeking the information;

    (2) The fee to be charged for accessing the system;

    (3) The extent of the information provided to the parent; and

    (4) Any additional information which may be necessary to expedite verification of the parent's application and provide access to the system. 

    3. The Attorney General shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.490 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the purposes of this act.

    4. This act shall take effect immediately .

STATEMENT

    This bill permits a parent to obtain information about certain criminal convictions or pending criminal charges filed against the other parent in a matter concerning a temporary custody order or a modification of an existing custody, partial custody or visitation order.

    The bill authorizes the Attorney General to develop the criminal history background system. The following offenses shall be included in the criminal history background system :

    (1) N.J.S.2C:11-3, murder;

    (2) N.J.S.2C: 11-4, manslaughter;

    (3) N.J.S.2C:12-1.b, aggravated assault;

    (4) N.J.S.2C:12-3, terroristic threats;

    (5) N.J.S.2C:12-10, stalking;

    (6) N.J.S.2C:13-1, kidnapping;

    (7) N.J.S.2C:13-2, criminal restraint;

    (8) N.J.S.2C:13-3, false imprisonment;

    (9) N.J.S.2C:14-2, aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault;

    (10) N.J.S.2C:14-3, aggravated criminal sexual contact and            criminal sexual contact;

    (11) N.J.S.2C:14-4, lewdness

    (12) N.J.S.2C:17-1, arson and related offenses;

    (13) N.J.S.24-4, endangering the welfare of a child.

    The bill provides for the Attorney General to adopt guidelines to effectuate the purposes of the act.

Authorizes the Attorney General to create a criminal history background system for use by certain parents.