Creates neutral safe exchange zones at county sheriff offices for certain custody and parenting time exchanges of minor children; makes appropriation.*

S587 SLP Statement 6/11/26

SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No.
587

with
committee amendments

STATE
OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:
�JUNE
11, 2026

����� The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports
favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 587.

����� As amended and reported by the committee, this bill
requires each county sheriff to designate at least one parking lot at the
sheriff�s office, or a substation thereof, as a neutral safe exchange zone at
which parents may meet to exchange a minor child pursuant to a parenting time
or custody order.

����� Under the amended bill, each neutral safe exchange
zone is required to:

����� (1)� have a sign on the premises to clearly identify
the designated area as a neutral safe exchange zone;

����� (2)� be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

����� (3)� provide adequate lighting; and

����� (4) maintain an external video surveillance system
that records continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

����� The surveillance system is required to have the
capability to record the neutral safe exchange zone during both the day and
night, capture and record images clearly, and accurately display the time and
date. The county sheriff is required to retain the video surveillance
recordings or images for at least 45 days.� However, nothing contained in the amended
bill holds a county, sheriff, law enforcement officer, or employee thereof
liable for civil damages for any act or omission relating to an incident
arising from a meeting to exchange a minor child at a neutral safe exchange
zone.

����� In addition, under the amended bill, upon the request
of a party to an order for parenting time or custody which provides for the
exchange of a minor child, the court is required to order that the exchange of
the minor child be conducted at a neutral safe exchange zone or at an exchange
site designated by the court.

����� Further, the amended bill provides that when a motion
to enforce compliance with a parenting time or custody order is filed, the
court may order that the exchange of a minor child be conducted at an exchange
site designated by the court upon request of a party to the order if there has
been a history of domestic violence between the parties or if there is a
temporary or final restraining order issued pursuant to the �Prevention of
Domestic Violence Act of 1991.���

����� Finally, the amended bill makes an appropriation from
the General Fund to each county sheriff�s office in this State to fund the
creation of the neutral safe exchange zones.

����� This bill was prefiled for introduction in the
2026-2027 session pending technical review.� As reported, the bill includes the
changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
:

����� The committee amended the bill to make clarifying
changes.