Authorizes VCCO to make payments to dependents of deceased victims in cases of strict liability for drug-induced deaths.

A4200

ASSEMBLY, No. 4200

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Authorizes VCCO to make payments to dependents of
deceased victims in cases of strict liability for drug-induced deaths.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning victims of crime and amending P.L.1971,
c.317.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 11 of P.L.1971,
c.317 (C.52:4B-11) is amended to read as follows:

���� 11.� The Victims of Crime
Compensation Office may order the payment of compensation in accordance with
the provisions of P.L.1971, c.317 (C.52:4B-1 et seq.) for personal injury or
death which resulted from:

���� a.���� an attempt to prevent
the commission of crime or to arrest a suspected criminal or in aiding or
attempting to aid a police officer to do so; or

���� b.��� the commission or
attempt to commit any of the following offenses:

���� (1) �aggravated assault;

���� (2) �(Deleted by amendment,
P.L.1995, c.135).

���� (3) �threats to do bodily
harm;

���� (4) �lewd, indecent, or
obscene acts;

���� (5) �indecent acts with
children;

���� (6) �kidnapping;

���� (7) �murder;

���� (8) �manslaughter;

���� (9) �aggravated sexual
assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual
contact;

���� (10) �any other crime
involving violence including domestic violence as defined by section 3 of
P.L.1981, c.426 (C.2C:25-3) or section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19);

���� (11) �burglary;

���� (12) �tampering with a
cosmetic, drug or food product;

���� (13) �a violation of human
trafficking, section 1 of P.L.2005, c.77 (C.2C:13-8); or

���� c.���� the commission of a
violation of R.S.39:4-50, section 5 of P.L.1990, c.103 (C.39:3-10.13), section
19 of P.L.1954, c.236 (C.12:7-34.19), or section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157
(C.12:7-46); or

���� d.��� theft of an automobile
pursuant to N.J.S.2C:20-2 or section 1 or 2 of P.L.2023, c.101 (C.2C:20-10.1 or
2C:20-10.2), eluding a law enforcement officer pursuant to subsection b. of
N.J.S.2C:29-2 or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle pursuant to subsection b.,
c., or d. of N.J.S.2C:20-10 where injuries to the victim occur in the course of
operating an automobile in furtherance of the offense; or

���� e.���� the commission of a
violation of N.J.S.2C:16-1, bias intimidation; or

���� f.���� simple assault pursuant
to N.J.S.2C:12-1 or disorderly conduct pursuant to N.J.S.2C:33-2; or

���� g.��� a motor vehicle accident
resulting in injury or death where the driver of the vehicle left the scene of
the accident in violation of R.S.39:4-129
; or

����
h.��� strict liability for
drug-induced deaths pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1987, c.106 (C.2C:35-9), in
cases in which a defendant has been charged
.

(cf: P.L.2023, c.101, s.8)

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill amends current law
to add the crime of strict liability for drug-induced deaths to the list of
crimes for which the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) may order the
payment of compensation for personal injury or death.

���� Under the provisions of the
bill, the VCCO would be authorized to order the payment of compensation for the
benefit of the dependents of the deceased victim. The crime of strict
liability for drug-induced deaths provides that any person who manufactures,
distributes, or dispenses certain controlled dangerous substances is strictly
liable for a death which results from the injection, inhalation or ingestion of
that substance, and is guilty of a crime of the first degree.� Under the bill�s
provisions, the payment only would be permitted to be ordered in cases in which
a defendant has been charged.