Assembly Judiciary Committee advances package of domestic-violence bills, moves ignition-interlock measure

At a New Jersey General Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing, lawmakers released several bills intended to strengthen responses to domestic violence and advanced a companion ignition-interlock measure for certain DWI offenses.

The committee moved bills that would create a multiyear pilot for integrated domestic-violence courts in four counties, make certain trespass conduct a third-degree crime when directed at victims protected by final restraining orders, allow transfer of wireless-billing responsibility to victims or their designees, expand counseling and custody presumptions for children in domestic-violence cases, require law enforcement danger assessments for victims, and expand a public-awareness campaign to include coercive control. The committee also released Assembly Bill A5411 (and companion Senate Bill S4144) to clarify ignition-interlock installation for some DWI offenses.

The measures drew testimony from court officials, victim advocates and public-safety groups and advanced out of committee either with or without amendments. The Administrative Office of the Courts opposed establishing a separate, integrated domestic-violence specialty court, citing New Jersey’s unified court structure and resource concerns. Victim-service advocates supported many provisions but urged closer stakeholder planning, stronger protections for victims, and funding for services that likely would see increased demand.

Pam Gellert, legislative liaison for the Administrative Office of the Courts, told the panel that an integrated court of the type proposed in A5425 would be inappropriate in New Jersey because the state uses a unified, “one judge, one family” system: “Unlike New York, New Jersey already uses a unified court system,” Gellert said, and she noted the bill “does not provide any appropriation” to implement a new court. She warned the bill’s integrated docket would be difficult to reconcile with criminal procedures that require different safeguards and resources.

Advocates from the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence did not oppose the idea of greater coordination but urged careful design and local stakeholder input. Nicole Morella, co‑executive director of the coalition, said an integrated approach “may streamline practices” and reduce trauma for survivors, but recommended the sponsor convene the Administrative Office of the Courts and other stakeholders so “we can envision what would an effective integrated court look like for us here in New Jersey.” The committee nevertheless released A5425 for further consideration.

Other bills drew narrower debate and technical amendments. Assembly Bill A3732 was amended to treat the specified trespass conduct as a form of residential burglary under NJSA 2C:18‑2.2 and to limit the new third-degree offense to cases where the victim is protected by a final restraining order under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, not a temporary restraining order. The committee released A3732 as amended.

Assembly Bill A3734, which permits a court order to transfer billing responsibility and rights to a wireless telephone number to certain victims of domestic violence or stalking, was amended to require that the victim or a designee (not the court) provide the transfer order to the wireless service provider; the committee released the bill as amended.

Assembly Bill A567, which permits courts to order counseling for minor children in households with domestic violence and establishes a presumption in favor of awarding custody to a domestic-violence victim in appropriate cases, was released as amended. Nicole Morella told lawmakers that domestic-violence programs statewide already offer services for children but “nearly all of them currently are operating with waiting lists,” and she urged the Legislature to consider appropriations during the state budget process so demand can be met.

On law enforcement practice, Assembly Bill A1802 would require officers to conduct a danger assessment and provide assistance to high‑risk victims. Morella urged that officers ensure victims understand how assessment information will be used and who will have access to it, and she warned that tying activation of local domestic‑violence response teams (DVRTs) to an assessment score risks reducing access. “We want to make sure police are offering that service in any case, regardless of whether or not somebody is using the assessment,” she said, describing variability between municipalities in how and when advocates are called to assist victims. The committee released A1802.

Assembly Bill A5426 would add coercive‑control information to the State Domestic Violence Public Awareness Campaign, expand languages used in outreach and require annual reporting on campaign activities; an amendment made such content subject to available funds and clarified that acceptance of federal or private funds will not reduce any state appropriation. Calandria Ortiz Orsende, policy director for the coalition, asked that the Administrative Office of the Courts lead or expand judicial training on coercive control to improve judicial understanding of recently enacted law. The bill was released as amended.

Outside the domestic-violence cluster, Steven Veniste, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving, urged the committee to support Assembly Bill A5411 (and companion S4144) to clarify ignition‑interlock device installation requirements for certain DWI offenses. He described data showing wider ignition‑interlock use has reduced crashes and credited changes to the interlock law with saving lives. The committee released A5411 together with the Senate companion.

Votes at a glance

- A5425 — Establishes three‑year integrated domestic‑violence court pilot in Camden, Essex, Hudson and Middlesex counties. Opposition noted from Administrative Office of the Courts on grounds of New Jersey’s unified court system and lack of appropriation; committee released the bill.

- A3732 (as amended) — Creates third‑degree offense for certain trespasses involving victims protected by final restraining orders; amendment classifies the offense as residential burglary pursuant to NJSA 2C:18‑2.2 and limits application to victims with final restraining orders. Released as amended.

- A3734 (as amended) — Permits transfer of wireless billing and number rights to certain victims; amended to require victim or designee supply the order to the wireless provider. Released as amended.

- A567 (as amended) — Allows courts to order counseling for minor children in domestic‑violence cases and clarifies custody presumption language; clarifies counseling eligibility and victim safety provisions. Released as amended.

- A1802 — Requires law enforcement officers to conduct danger assessments and provide assistance to high‑risk victims; testimony urged clearer consent, data‑usage protections, and that DVRT advocates be offered regardless of assessment score. Released.

- A5426 (as amended) — Adds coercive‑control content to the State Domestic Violence Public Awareness Campaign, expands languages, requires annual reporting; amendment makes new content subject to available funds and protects existing state appropriations. Released as amended.

- A5411 / S4144 — Clarifies ignition‑interlock device installation for certain DWI offenses (relates to NJSA 39:4‑50); testimony in favor from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and ignition‑interlock vendors; released.

What’s next

Each bill will continue through the legislative process after being released from committee; committee members and witnesses repeatedly flagged implementation questions — especially resource and fiscal impacts for courts and victim‑service programs — that sponsors and agencies said they will address as bills move toward floor consideration.

The committee adjourned after the roll call and released the bills for further action.