ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1475

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  MARCH 9, 2023

 

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1475 (2R).

     As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 1475 (2R) requires the court to consider information related to coercive control in a domestic violence proceeding.  The bill defines “coercive control” to mean a pattern of behavior against a person protected under the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991,” P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.) that in purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with a person’s free will and personal liberty. The bill provides that “coercive control” includes, but is not limited to, unreasonably engaging in any of the following:

      (a)  isolating the person from friends, relatives, transportation, medical care, or other source of support;

      (b)  depriving the person of basic necessities;

      (c)  monitoring the person’s movements, communications, daily behavior, finances, economic resources, or access to services;

      (d)  compelling the person by force, threat, or intimidation, including, but not limited to, threats based on actual or suspected immigration status;

      (e)  threatening to make or making baseless reports to the police, courts, the Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP), the Board of Social Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or other parties;

      (f)  threatening to harm or kill the individual’s relative or pet; or           (g)  threatening to deny or interfere with an individual’s custody or parenting time, other than through enforcement of a valid custody arrangement or court order pursuant to current law including, but not limited to, an order issued pursuant to Title 9 of the Revised Statutes.