ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4981

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 20, 2025

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4981 (1R).

      As amended and reported, this bill permits a court, when making a pretrial detention determination, and upon the request of the prosecutor, to take more time in such determination when the charged offense involves a firearm.

      Under current law, a court is required to make a pretrial release decision for an eligible defendant without unnecessary delay, but in no case later than 48 hours after the eligible defendant’s commitment to jail.  Under the bill, the 48 hours would not apply in cases where an eligible defendant is charged with any crime or offense involving the use or possession of a firearm.  As amended, the additional time provided to the court would not exceed such time as is reasonably necessary for a firearms ballistic analysis to be conducted and immediately provided to the court, and in no event exceed seven days.

      The bill is in response to Recommendation 4 of the State Commission of Investigation’s 2024 report, “Illegal Firearms Use & Trends in New Jersey.”

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1) require a prosecutor to make a request for the court to take additional time in making a pretrial detention determination; and

      (2) require the firearms ballistic analysis to be immediately provided to the court.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.