Bill
Would Amend Current Law to Include New Parents of Child Victims of Domestic
Violence
(Trenton) - Legislation sponsored by Assembly
Democrats Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Annette Quijano to expand the scope of
current law pertaining to domestic violence victims and further protect New
Jersey citizens cleared an Assembly panel today.
Under the current
Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991, a parent of an adopted child who is
subjected to domestic violence by a person whose parental rights towards the
adopted child have been terminated is not protected under the “Prevention of
Domestic Violence Act 1991” unless some other relationship exists between the
new parent and the victim which allows the victim to show he or she is a “victim
of domestic violence.”
“Once a safe home has been provided
for a child victim of domestic violence, it is up to the law to keep the child
and new family protected from further victimization,” said Vainieri Huttle
(D-Bergen). “This bill would help to do exactly that. Extending protection under
the law is the right thing to do.”
“This legislation would
allow New
Jersey to strengthen protections for domestic violence
victims,” said Quijano (D-Union). “A new family and a new home is a chance for
these children to begin again. The law should protect their new parents and
their new safe haven.”
The proposed legislation
(A-781) would amend the definition of “victim of domestic violence” in the
“Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991” to include any parent of an
adopted child who has been subjected to domestic violence by a person whose
parental rights towards the adopted child to avail himself or herself of the
protections afforded by the act.
Under the bill, the term
domestic violence is defined and includes any of the following crimes when
committed against a person protected under current law: Homicide, Assault,
terroristic threats, kidnapping, criminal restraint, false imprisonment, sexual
assault, criminal sexual contact, lewdness, criminal mischief, burglary,
criminal trespass and harassment.
The bill was released by
the Assembly Judiciary Committee; and it now goes to the desk of the Assembly
Speaker for further consideration.
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