The proposed bill establishes a four-year pilot program in Ocean County, named Lisa's Law, to implement electronic monitoring for certain domestic violence offenders. This program, which honors the memory of Letizia Zindell, will be overseen by the Attorney General and the State Parole Board. Courts will have the authority to order electronic monitoring for defendants convicted of contempt of domestic violence orders, contingent upon the informed consent of the victim. The bill outlines specific factors for the court to consider when determining the necessity of electronic monitoring, such as the severity of harm inflicted on the victim and the defendant's history of violence. It also mandates that monitoring devices comply with national standards and allows courts to impose costs on defendants based on their financial capability, including a $250 monitoring fee that will fund the Domestic Violence Victim Notification Fund.

Additionally, the bill amends the Local Public Contracts Law to facilitate the procurement of services and equipment for the pilot program without the need for public bidding. It allocates $2.5 million from the General Fund to support the initiative and requires the Attorney General to provide annual evaluations of the program to the Governor and Legislature, assessing its effectiveness and potential for statewide expansion. The legislation also introduces civil penalties for offenders and offers liability protections for suppliers of electronic monitoring products, except in cases of manufacturing defects. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the safety of domestic violence victims while ensuring accountability for offenders through the use of electronic monitoring and associated penalties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40A:11-5