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 will be overseen by the Attorney General and the State Parole Board, allowing courts to mandate electronic monitoring for defendants convicted of contempt of domestic violence orders, contingent upon the informed consent of the victim. The bill specifies criteria for courts to consider when deciding on electronic monitoring, such as the severity of harm to the victim and the defendant's history of violence. It also requires that electronic monitoring devices meet national standards and permits courts to impose costs on defendants based on their financial capacity, including a $250 monitoring fee that will contribute to the 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 the need for public bidding. It allocates $2.5 million from the General Fund to support the initiative and mandates the Attorney General to provide annual evaluations of the program to the Governor and Legislature. The legislation also introduces civil penalties for domestic violence offenders and includes protections for suppliers of electronic monitoring services from liability, except in cases of manufacturing defects. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the safety of domestic violence victims through improved monitoring and notification systems while ensuring that the financial implications are managed appropriately.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40A:11-5