Expands the domestic violence statutes to encompass minors aged 16 and older.

S4006

SENATE, No. 4006

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Expands the domestic violence statutes to encompass
minors aged 16 and older.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning domestic violence and amending P.L.1991,
c.261.

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

���� 1.��� Section 3 of P.L.1991,
c.261 (C.2C:25-19) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.��� As used in this act:

���� a.� "Domestic
violence" means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts
inflicted upon a person protected under this act by an adult
[
or
]
,
an
emancipated minor
, or an unemancipated minor who is 16 years of age or older
:�

����������� (1)�� Homicide���
N.J.S.2C:11-1 et seq.

����������� (2)�� Assault���
N.J.S.2C:12-1

����������� (3)�� Terroristic
threats� N.J.S.2C:12-3

����������� (4)�� Kidnapping���
N.J.S.2C:13-1

����������� (5)�� Criminal
restraint��� N.J.S.2C:13-2

����������� (6)�� False
imprisonment��� N.J.S.2C:13-3

����������� (7)�� Sexual assault���
N.J.S.2C:14-2

����������� (8)�� Criminal sexual
contact� N.J.S.2C:14-3

����������� (9)�� Lewdness���
N.J.S.2C:14-4

����������� (10)� Criminal
mischief��� N.J.S.2C:17-3

����������� (11)� Burglary���
N.J.S.2C:18-2

����������� (12)� Criminal
trespass��� N.J.S.2C:18-3

����������� (13)� Harassment���
N.J.S.2C:33-4

����������� (14)� Stalking���
P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10)

����������� (15)� Criminal
coercion��� N.J.S.2C:13-5

����������� (16)� Robbery���
N.J.S.2C:15-1

����������� (17)� Contempt of a
domestic violence order pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:29-9 that
constitutes a crime or disorderly persons offense

����������� (18)� Any other crime
involving risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person protected under
the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261
(C.2C:25-17 et al.)

����������� (19)� Cyber-harassment
P.L.2013, c.272 (C.2C:33-4.1)

���� When one or more of these acts
is inflicted by an unemancipated minor
under the age of 16
upon a person
protected under this act, the occurrence shall not constitute "domestic
violence," but may be the basis for the filing of a petition or complaint
pursuant to the provisions of section 11 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C.2A:4A-30).

���� b.��� "Law enforcement
agency" means a department, division, bureau, commission, board or other
authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof which employs
law enforcement officers.

���� c.���� "Law enforcement
officer" means a person whose public duties include the power to act as an
officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest and conviction of offenders
against the laws of this State.

���� d.��� "Victim of domestic
violence" means a person protected under this act and shall include any
person who is
[
18
]
16

years of age or older or who is an emancipated minor and who has been subjected
to domestic violence by a spouse, former spouse, or any other person who is a
present household member or was at any time a household member. "Victim of
domestic violence" also includes any person, regardless of age, who has
been subjected to domestic violence by a person with whom the victim has a
child in common, or with whom the victim anticipates having a child in common,
if one of the parties is pregnant.� "Victim of domestic violence"
also includes any person who has been subjected to domestic violence by a
person with whom the victim has had a dating relationship.

���� e.���� "Emancipated
minor" means a person who is under 18 years of age but who has been
married, has entered military service, has a child or is pregnant or has been
previously declared by a court or an administrative agency to be emancipated.

(cf: P.L.2016, c.77, s.1)

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall apply to all acts of domestic violence committed
on or after the effective date.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would expand the
protections of the domestic violence statutes to include minors aged 16 and
older.

���� Under current law, a domestic
violence restraining order may be issued only under certain circumstances: if
the victim is at least 18 years old; is an emancipated minor; has had a dating
relationship with the defendant; has a child in common with the defendant; or
anticipates having a child in common if one of the parties is pregnant.� A
restraining order may be issued against a defendant only if the defendant is at
least 18 years old or is an emancipated minor.

���� Under the bill, any victim of
domestic violence who is at least 16 years old could apply for a domestic
violence restraining order, and any defendant who is at least 16 years old
could be subject to a domestic violence restraining order.