Establishes compensatory time lost to investigation of unsubstantiated child abuse, neglect, or other issue in child custody cases.

S4530

SENATE, No. 4530

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 26, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes compensatory time lost to investigation
of unsubstantiated child abuse, neglect, or other issue in child custody cases.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning compensatory parenting time and
supplementing Title 9 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.� a.� Except as provided in
subsection b. of this section, the Superior court, Chancery Division, Family
Part, shall, upon application by a parent or guardian of a minor child, order
additional periods of parenting time to compensate a parent or guardian for the
denial of court-ordered parenting time under the circumstances set forth in
subsection b. of this section.

���� b. Unless a party can demonstrate
good cause why such an order should not be entered, the court shall, subject to
the best interests of the child, order additional periods of parenting time to
compensate for any denial of court-ordered parenting time that resulted from an
investigation by any investigative agency, including but not limited to, the
Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or from the provision of a
restraining order, or protective order, or any investigative agency, which did
not result in a finding of abuse or neglect.

���� c. �The additional periods of
parenting time:

���� (1) shall be of the same type
and duration as the parenting time that was denied;

���� (2) may include weekday,
weekend, holiday, and summer parenting time; and

���� (3) must occur on or before
the second anniversary of the date the court determines that court-ordered parenting
time was denied.

���� d. �Subject to the best
interests of the child, the parent who was denied parenting time shall be
entitled to select the time and dates for the additional parenting time,
consistent with subsection b.

���� e. �The provision of P.L.��
c.�� C.��� (C.��� (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall not be
construed to impose liability in any civil action against an investigative
agency or governmental entity or employee thereof.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill directs the Superior
Court, Chancery Division, Family Part to order additional periods of parenting
time to compensate a parent for the denial of court-ordered parenting time
under certain circumstances.

���� Under current law, a mandatory
investigation resulting from allegations of child abuse or neglect, or other
causes, including allegations of domestic violence, can result in disruption to
established parenting time schedules.� This bill would ensure that, unless such
an order would not be in the best interest of the child who is the subject of
the order, a court shall, upon application by a parent or guardian of the child,
grant additional periods of parenting time to compensate for the lost time.�
Under the bill, the additional periods of parenting time: �(1)� must be of the
same type and duration as the parenting time that was denied; (2) may include
weekday, weekend, holiday, and summer parenting time; and (3) must occur on or
before the second anniversary of the date the court determines that court-ordered
parenting time was denied.� Moreover, subject to the best interests of the
child, the parent who was denied parenting time shall be entitled to select the
time and dates for the additional parenting time.

���� The bill provides that the
provisions shall not be construed to impose liability in any civil action
against an investigative agency or governmental entity or employee thereof.