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, specifically those convicted of contempt of domestic violence orders. The program requires the informed consent of the victim and will be overseen by the Attorney General and the State Parole Board. Courts will evaluate the appropriateness of electronic monitoring based on factors such as the severity of harm to the victim and the defendant's history of violence. The bill mandates that electronic monitoring devices meet national standards and allows courts to impose costs on defendants, including a $250 fee directed to a newly created Domestic Violence Victim Notification Fund.

Additionally, the bill amends the Local Public Contracts Law to facilitate the negotiation and award of necessary services and equipment for the pilot program without public bidding. It allocates $2.5 million from the General Fund to support the initiative and requires annual evaluations from the Attorney General to the Governor and Legislature. The legislation also introduces civil penalties for domestic violence offenders and provides 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 structured electronic monitoring.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40A:11-5