SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 587

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 11, 2026

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 587.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill requires each county sheriff to designate at least one parking lot at the sheriff’s office, or a substation thereof, as a neutral safe exchange zone at which parents may meet to exchange a minor child pursuant to a parenting time or custody order.

      Under the amended bill, each neutral safe exchange zone is required to:

      (1)  have a sign on the premises to clearly identify the designated area as a neutral safe exchange zone;

      (2)  be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

      (3)  provide adequate lighting; and

      (4) maintain an external video surveillance system that records continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

      The surveillance system is required to have the capability to record the neutral safe exchange zone during both the day and night, capture and record images clearly, and accurately display the time and date. The county sheriff is required to retain the video surveillance recordings or images for at least 45 days.  However, nothing contained in the amended bill holds a county, sheriff, law enforcement officer, or employee thereof liable for civil damages for any act or omission relating to an incident arising from a meeting to exchange a minor child at a neutral safe exchange zone.

      In addition, under the amended bill, upon the request of a party to an order for parenting time or custody which provides for the exchange of a minor child, the court is required to order that the exchange of the minor child be conducted at a neutral safe exchange zone or at an exchange site designated by the court.

      Further, the amended bill provides that when a motion to enforce compliance with a parenting time or custody order is filed, the court may order that the exchange of a minor child be conducted at an exchange site designated by the court upon request of a party to the order if there has been a history of domestic violence between the parties or if there is a temporary or final restraining order issued pursuant to the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991.”  

      Finally, the amended bill makes an appropriation from the General Fund to each county sheriff’s office in this State to fund the creation of the neutral safe exchange zones.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to make clarifying changes.