The bill seeks to enhance New Jersey's legal framework regarding the sexual exploitation and abuse of children by introducing stricter penalties and clarifying definitions related to child sexual abuse or exploitation material, replacing the outdated term "child pornography." It establishes that photographing or filming a child in a prohibited sexual act constitutes a second-degree crime and outlines various degrees of crimes based on the quantity of such material possessed or distributed, with mandatory minimum sentences for large quantities. The legislation also introduces provisions for individuals leading networks to share child sexual abuse material and mandates lifetime parole supervision for certain offenders, while creating a "Computer Crime Prevention Fund" to support related investigations and prosecutions.

Additionally, the bill amends laws concerning parole supervision, allowing individuals sentenced to parole for life to petition for release after 15 years of no criminal activity, and establishes penalties for violations of parole conditions. It revises definitions and procedures related to crimes against children, expands the list of offenses triggering referrals to child protection services, and modifies the expungement process for certain convictions, ensuring that serious crimes against children remain ineligible for expungement. The bill also emphasizes the disqualification of individuals with specific convictions from employment in child care settings and mandates thorough background checks for prospective resource family parents or adoptive parents, thereby strengthening protections for children in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:30B-1, 2C:7-2, 2C:24-4.1, 2C:43-6.4, 2C:44-6.3, 9:3-40.5, 18A:35-4.32, 30:4C-26.8, 30:4C-27.19, 30:5B-6.14, 30:5B-25.7, 52:17B-193