New Jersey A 2846: Permits certain local units and authorities to reduce water, and sewer, and stormwater fees and other charges for low-income persons.

Bill Text

A2846 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2846 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman BRIAN E. RUMPF

District 9 (Ocean)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Scharfenberger

SYNOPSIS

���� Creates penalty for failure to cooperate with child 
abuse investigations; upgrades penalties for failure to report child abuse.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning child abuse investigations and 
amending P.L.1971, c.437.

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

���� 1. Section 7 of P.L.1971, 
c.437 (C.9:6-8.14) is amended to read as follows: 

���� 7. a. Except as provided in 
subsection b. of this section any person knowingly violating the provisions of [this act] P.L.1971, 
c.437 (C.9:6-8.8 et seq.) including the failure to report an act of child 
abuse [having] and who 
has reasonable cause to believe that an act of child abuse has been 
committed, is guilty of a [disorderly 
person] 
crime of the fourth degree. 

���� b.��� Any person who knowingly 
fails to report an act of sexual abuse against a child and who has reasonable 
cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse has been committed is guilty of a 
crime of the [fourth] third 
degree.

���� c.���� Any person who 
knowingly fails to cooperate with an investigation of child abuse or neglect conducted 
by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or any other entity in the 
Department of Children and Families as may be designated by the Commissioner of 
Children and Families, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.40, s.2)

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill creates a penalty 
for failing to cooperate with a child abuse or neglect investigation and 
upgrades the penalties for failure to report child abuse and failure to report 
sexual abuse.

���� Under current law, any person 
who violates the provisions of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.8 et seq., which includes the 
failure to report an act of child abuse and who has reasonable cause to believe 
that an act of child abuse has been committed, is guilty of a disorderly 
persons offense.� This bill upgrades the penalty to a crime of the fourth 
degree.� A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by incarceration for up to 
18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. 

���� Under current law, any person 
who knowingly fails to report an act of sexual abuse against a child and who 
has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse has been committed 
is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.� This bill upgrades the penalty to a 
crime of the third degree.� A crime of the third degree is punishable by 
incarceration for a term of between three and five years, a fine of up to 
$15,000, or both. 

���� Finally, this bill amends 
current law to provide that any person who knowingly fails to cooperate with an 
investigation of child abuse or neglect conducted by the Division of Child 
Protection and Permanency, or any other entity in the Department of Children 
and Families as may be designated by the Commissioner of Children and Families, 
is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.