Trenton, NJ – Senator James Beach (District 6) has introduced Senate Bill 2369, co-sponsored by Senator Parker Space, to expand the provisions of Megan’s Law in New Jersey.
This bill mandates that municipal governing bodies be notified when a sex offender moves into their jurisdiction and imposes restrictions on where sex offenders can reside, specifically prohibiting them from living near areas frequented by children.
The bill requires that when a sex offender, listed on the Internet registry maintained by the Superintendent of the State Police, registers with the chief law enforcement officer of a municipality, the officer must forward the offender’s name and address to the members of the governing body of that municipality. If the sex offender moves to a municipality without a police force, the Superintendent of State Police will handle the notification to the governing body.
Additionally, the bill makes it unlawful for sex offenders, who are required to register under Megan’s Law for offenses against individuals under the age of 18, to reside within 500 feet of elementary or secondary schools, playgrounds, or child care centers.
There are exceptions to this residential ban for sex offenders who reside in a prison or mental health facility, established their residence before the bill’s enactment, have a school, playground, or child care center established within 500 feet of their existing residence after they moved in, were granted a needs-based exception by the parole board, or were discharged from a psychiatric facility by a court and granted an exemption by a court.