ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5906

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 4, 2025

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5906.

This bill requires the Administrative Office of the Courts, in conjunction with the State Parole Board, to conduct a comprehensive study on Megan’s Law, P.L.1994, c.128, P.L.1994, c.133, and P.L.2001, c.167.

     Under current law, the Violence Institute of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) was tasked in or about 2007 with conducting a study on the implementation and application of Megan’s Law.  However, it appears that this study was never completed or made publicly available.  In 2013, UMDNJ was dissolved, and its components were mostly transferred to Rutgers University and Rowan University.  This bill amends current law to place the onus on the Administrative Office of the Courts, in conjunction with the State Parole Board, to conduct this study. 

     Under the bill, the study is to examine the implementation and application of Megan’s Law, specifically regarding the registration of sex offenders and community notification for certain sex offenders.

     In addition, the study is to evaluate the current procedures utilized by the county prosecutors and the courts in determining a sex offender’s tier designation and implementing community notification.  In evaluating these procedures, the study is to examine the disposition of all sex offenders who have registered and have been assigned a tier rating since the enactment of Megan’s Law, or from the earliest date permitted by the availability of reliable records. 

     Additionally, the study is to make recommendations regarding the standardization of procedures for evaluating the risk of re-offense, assigning tier designations, implementing community notification, and ensuring uniform application of the Attorney General’s guidelines by law enforcement in providing community notification.

     Furthermore, the study is to examine the use of the Internet registry in providing information to the public about sex offenders.  Specifically, the study is to review the implementation of the Internet registry and determine whether the Internet registry has accomplished its mission to inform the public of dangerous sex offenders, or if geographic inconsistencies have mitigated its effectiveness. 

     Finally, the study is to examine whether a central agency should be charged with the administration of Megan’s Law and the determination as to which offenders should appear on the Internet registry.