SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2236

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 8, 2024

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2236.

      This bill exempts nursing mothers from jury duty when the child is one year of age or younger.  Under current law, nursing mothers are not explicitly exempted from jury duty, which can present a hardship to mothers who are nursing or expressing milk for their babies. 

      Currently, statutory exemptions from jury duty include those for persons: 75 years of age or older; who have served on a jury within the previous three years; or who will suffer severe hardship due to circumstances that are unlikely to change within a year (e.g., medical conditions or severe financial hardship compromising the ability to support oneself or one’s dependents).  Also exempted are members of volunteer fire departments, first aid squads, and rescue squads, and, under certain circumstances during a school term, elementary and secondary school teachers.

      This bill would support mothers who are nursing or expressing milk and their infant children by enabling them to claim an exemption from jury duty during the first year of an infant child’s life.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.