Permits court to order transfer of billing responsibility for, and rights to, wireless telephone number to certain victims of domestic violence or stalking.

A4221

ASSEMBLY, No. 4221

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Permits court to order transfer of billing
responsibility for, and rights to, wireless telephone number to certain victims
of domestic violence or stalking.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning protections for certain victims of domestic violence or stalking and
supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

����
Be It Enacted

by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

����� 1.�� In
addition to any other relief granted, and upon the issuance of a final
restraining order, pursuant to the provisions of the �Prevention of Domestic
Violence Act of 1991,� P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.) or a permanent
restraining order pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1996, c.39 (C.2C:12-10.1), the
court may, at the victim�s request, issue an order directing a wireless
telephone service provider to transfer the billing responsibility for, and
rights to, a wireless telephone number to the victim, if the victim is not the
account holder.

����� When
issuing an order concerning a wireless telephone number pursuant to this
section, upon the victim�s request, the court may also order the defendant to
reimburse the victim for any fees associated with the transfer incurred by the
victim during the transfer of billing responsibilities.

���� 2.��� a.� The order
transferring billing responsibility for, and rights to, the wireless telephone
number to a victim shall be a separate order that is directed to the wireless
telephone service provider. The order shall list the name and the billing
telephone number of the account holder, the name and contact information of the
person to whom the telephone number will be transferred, and each telephone
number to be transferred to that person.� The court shall ensure that the
contact information of the victim is not provided to the account holder in
proceedings held pursuant to P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.).

���� b.��� The victim or a designee
of the victim shall provide the order to the wireless service provider.

���� c.���� The wireless service
provider shall notify the victim and the court within 72 hours of receipt of
the order if the provider cannot operationally or technically effectuate the
order due to certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

���� (1)�� The account holder has
already terminated the account;

���� (2)�� Differences in network
technology prevent the functionality of a device on the network; or

���� (3)�� There are geographic or
other limitations on network or service availability.

���� If the wireless service
provider cannot operationally or technically effectuate the order, the provider
shall inform the court and the victim of any reasons for the provider�s
noncompliance.

����� 3.�� a.�
Upon transfer of billing responsibility for, and rights to, a wireless
telephone number to the victim pursuant to this act, the victim shall assume
all financial responsibility for the transferred wireless telephone number,
monthly service costs, and costs for any mobile device associated with the
wireless telephone number.

���� b.��� This
section shall not preclude a wireless service provider from applying any
routine and customary requirements for account establishment to the victim as
part of the transfer of billing responsibility for a wireless telephone number
and any devices attached to that number, including, but not limited to,
identification, financial information, and customer preferences.

���� 4.��� P.L.��� , c.���
(C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall not affect the
authority of the court to apportion the assets and debts of the parties
pursuant to law, or the authority of the court to determine the temporary use,
possession, and control of personal property pursuant to section 13 of P.L.1991,
c.261 (C.2C:25-29).

���� 5.��� No wireless telephone
service provider or its officers, employees, or agents shall be liable for
damages for actions taken in accordance with the terms of a court order issued
pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).

����� 6.�� This
act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month next following the
date of enactment, but the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office
of the Courts may take such anticipatory action as is necessary for the
implementation of the act.

STATEMENT

����� This bill authorizes the court to order the transfer
of billing responsibility for, and rights to, the wireless telephone number of
certain victims of domestic violence and stalking.

����� Under the bill, upon a domestic violence or stalking
victim�s request, and upon the issuance of a final or permanent restraining
order, the court may direct a wireless telephone service provider to transfer
the rights and billing responsibilities to a wireless telephone number to the
victim, if the victim is not already the account holder.� The bill applies to
victims of domestic violence as set forth in the
�Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991,� P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et
al.) and victims of stalking pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:12-10.1.
Upon the
victim�s request, the court also is permitted to order the defendant to
reimburse the victim for any costs incurred by the victim for the transfer of
billing responsibilities.

����� For an order transferring a wireless telephone number
under the bill, the court is required enter a separate order directed to the
wireless telephone service provider.� The court is required to ensure that the
contact information of the victim is not provided to the account holder in any
domestic violence proceeding.� The bill requires that the victim, or a designee
of the victim, provide the order to the wireless service provider.

����� The provisions of the bill require the wireless
service provider to notify the victim and the court within 72 hours of receipt
of the order if the provider cannot operationally or technically effectuate the
order for situations described in the bill, and is required to provide the
reasons for noncompliance. Upon transfer of billing responsibility for and
rights to a wireless telephone number to the victim, the victim would assume
all financial responsibility for the number, monthly service costs, and costs for
any mobile device associated with the wireless telephone number or numbers. The
wireless service provider would not be precluded from applying any routine and
customary requirements for account establishment to the victim as part of this
transfer of billing responsibility and any devices attached to that number,
including, but not limited to, identification, financial information, and
customer preferences.

����� Finally, the bill provides that no wireless telephone
service provider or its officers, employees, or agents may be held liable for
damages for actions taken in accordance with the terms of a court order issued
under the bill.