A-502

Sponsored by: Assemblymen WAYNE P. DEANGELO District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex), Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by: Assemblywomen Haider and Park

STATEMENT

This bill is intended to protect the children and youth of this state by prohibiting sex offenders from holding jobs which primarily consist of contact with children. The bill defines "primarily consists of contact with children" as 80 percent or more of the actual or official duties or responsibilities include contact with a child.
"Sex offender" is defined as a person who has been convicted, adjudicated delinquent or found not guilty by reason of insanity for committing a broad range of sexual offenses as defined in the sex
offender registration law (Megan's Law). Under the bill, it would be crime of the third degree for a sex offender to hold a job which primarily consists of contact with children. It would also be a crime of the third degree to knowingly hire a sex offender for a job which primarily consists of contact with children. A crime of the third degree carries a penalty of three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both