New Jersey A 657: Requires that if a school district satisfies 80% or more of the required NJ Quality Single Accountability Continuum standards in an area of district effectiveness under State intervention, the State must return that area to local control.

Bill Text

A657 

ASSEMBLY, No. 657 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblyman GERRY SCHARFENBERGER

District 13 (Monmouth)

Assemblyman PAUL KANITRA

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Flynn

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes mandatory penalties for committing 
burglary and theft during a state of emergency.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

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

��

An Act concerning crimes committed during a state of emergency 
and amending P.L.1942, c.251.

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

���� 1.��� Section 17 of P.L.1942, 
c.251 (C.App.A:9-49) is amended to read as follows:

���� 17.� Any person who shall:

���� a.���� Commit any unauthorized 
or otherwise unlawful act during the threat or imminence of danger in any 
emergency or during an ongoing emergency that jeopardizes the health, 
welfare and safety of the people; or

���� b.��� Commit any unauthorized 
or otherwise unlawful act during the threat or imminence of danger during any 
emergency or during an ongoing emergency that contributes to the loss of 
or destruction to property; or

���� c.���� Hamper, impede, or in 
any way interfere with any person who is performing any function authorized 
under this act; or

���� d.��� Drive any motor vehicle 
in a prohibited area during a black-out or while� an air raid alert is in 
progress or in any other manner contrary to the rules� and regulations covering 
any period of danger or any emergency; or

���� e.���� Go within a prohibited 
area contrary to rules and regulations;� or

���� f.���� Refuse to obey the 
lawful orders of any air raid warden, civilian protection worker, or other 
person who is duly authorized to perform any act or� function during the threat 
or imminence of danger or any emergency; or

���� g.��� Refuse to cooperate with 
any air raid warden, civilian protection worker, or other person who is duly 
authorized to perform any act or function in connection with activities during 
the threat or imminence of danger or any emergency; or

���� h.��� Violate any order, rule 
or regulation adopted by the Governor and promulgated as provider by this act; 
or

���� i.���� [Violate any 
other provision of this act declared herein to be unlawful--] Violate 
this act shall be adjudged a disorderly person and shall be subject to 
imprisonment for a term not to exceed [6] six months 
or shall pay a fine not to exceed [$1,000.00] $1,000 
or to both a fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

���� j.���� Any person who 
violates subsections a. and b. of this section by committing an act of burglary 
as defined under N.J.S.2C:18-2, robbery under N.J.S.2C:15-1, or theft and 
related offenses under N.J.S.2C:20-1 et seq., shall in addition to the 
penalties prescribed under those sections serve a mandatory six month term of

imprisonment or a term of community 
service for six months in such form and on such terms as the court shall deem 
appropriate.

���� Prosecution for the imposition 
of a penalty pursuant to this section shall be commenced in the municipal court 
of the municipality wherein the offense is alleged to have occurred.� The State 
shall be required to prove all elements of the offense beyond a reasonable 
doubt in order to obtain a conviction.

(cf: P.L.1982, c.108, s.1)

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill amends the �Disaster 
Control Act� by establishing additional mandatory penalties for committing 
theft, robbery or burglary, acts commonly referred to as looting, during an 
emergency.

���� Under the Disaster Control 
Act, the Governor is empowered to issue executive orders in response to 
emergencies.� Emergencies under the act extend to war emergencies and disasters 
resulting from natural or unnatural causes which endanger the health, safety or 
resources of the residents of one or more municipalities of the State.� The 
act, in part, establishes penalties for committing unlawful conduct during the 
threat of an emergency that jeopardizes the health, welfare and safety of the 
people, or contributes to the loss of, or destruction, to property.

���� This bill amends the act to 
establish a mandatory six month term of imprisonment or a six month term of 
community service, whichever the court deems to be appropriate, if a person 
commits burglary, robbery or theft during an emergency.� The mandatory penalties 
established under this bill are to be imposed in addition to any penalties 
imposed for committing the crimes of theft, robbery, or burglary under Title 2C 
of the New Jersey Statutes.

���� Finally, the bill clarifies 
that a person may be penalized under the Disaster Control Act while an 
emergency is ongoing.