ASSEMBLY HOMELAND SECURITY AND STATE PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5135

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 16, 2023

      The Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5135.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 5135 prohibits the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) from denying a victim an award of compensation based solely on the grounds that there are certain outstanding warrants for the victim’s arrest or charges against the victim. 

      Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, the VCCO is not to deny an order of payment of compensation based solely on the grounds that there is an outstanding court-ordered warrant for the arrest of a victim for a traffic-related violation, petty disorderly persons offense, disorderly persons offense, or a fourth-degree crime, or that criminal charges are pending against the victim resulting from the filing of a criminal complaint or return of an indictment against the victim for a petty disorderly persons offense, disorderly persons offense, or fourth-degree crime.