SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3884

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 18, 2026

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3884.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill establishes procedures for expedited notification under Megan’s Law when a registered sex offender moves to this State from another jurisdiction.

      Under the bill, the Attorney General is required to develop procedures for county prosecutors to use when evaluating sex offender registration records from other jurisdictions to determine whether an offender is at low, moderate, or high risk of re-offense under Megan’s Law.  In addition, the bill requires offenders to register with law enforcement no later than 10 days before first residing in or returning to this State.  Under current law, a registered sex offender moving to New Jersey from another jurisdiction is required to register only upon residing in this State.  The bill further requires certain offenders who reside in another jurisdiction but regularly enter this State, for purposes such as employment or education, to register in advance. 

      Under the bill, if a county prosecutor determines that an offender residing in this State is at moderate or high risk of re-offense, community notification is to be made within 72 hours.  If the offender requests judicial review to contest the prosecutor's determination, the bill requires an expedited hearing and continuous, satellite-based monitoring for any offender residing in this State until judicial review is completed. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  clarify that sex offenders who are residing in this State are subject to satellite-based monitoring in accordance with the “Sex Offender Monitoring Act” while judicial review of the prosecutor’s determination regarding the offender’s risk of re-offense is pending; 

      (2)  require the offender to be advised, in writing, of the conditions of monitoring and any fines, fees, or penalties that may be imposed for a violation of those conditions;

      (3)  revise the bill to replace references to “establishing residency” with language used in current law regarding sex offenders who are registered in another jurisdiction and move or return to this State;

      (4)  clarify that a county prosecutor is required to evaluate and make a determination regarding the offender’s risk of re-offense before the offender moves or returns to this State;

      (5)  provide that a sex offender seeking judicial review of a prosecutor’s determination regarding the offender’s risk of re-offense is required to make the request using a form provided by the Administrative Director of the Courts; and

      (6)  make other technical and clarifying corrections.