This bill amends New Jersey laws concerning the sexual exploitation and abuse of children, specifically focusing on the trade of child sexual abuse or exploitation material (CSAEM). It introduces stricter penalties for offenses related to CSAEM, including defining possession thresholds that categorize crimes into first, second, and third degrees based on the number of items involved. The bill also establishes personal liability for individuals representing corporations engaged in these offenses and allows victims to pursue civil actions to recover financial gains made by perpetrators. Additionally, it mandates that individuals convicted of certain sex offenses register with law enforcement and outlines the procedures for such registration.

Furthermore, the bill updates terminology by replacing "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" to better reflect the severity of these crimes. It clarifies the implications of these offenses for employment disqualifications in child care settings and introduces a "Computer Crime Prevention Fund" to support investigations into computer-related crimes. The bill also revises the expungement process, specifying which convictions are ineligible for expungement, particularly those involving serious crimes against children. Overall, the bill aims to enhance protections for children, improve accountability for offenders, and align legal language with contemporary understanding of child exploitation issues.

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