This bill seeks to establish the crime of incest as a third-degree offense in New Jersey, allowing for prosecution separately from other sexual offenses such as sexual assault or endangering the welfare of children. Under the proposed law, an individual would be guilty of incest if they marry or engage in sexual penetration with certain relatives, including ancestors, descendants, siblings, a sibling of a parent (aunt or uncle), or a child of a sibling (niece or nephew). The bill clarifies that these relationships encompass both whole and half-blood connections, regardless of legitimacy, as well as adoptive relationships.

The bill also notes that a third-degree crime is punishable by three to five years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Incest was previously recognized as a crime under New Jersey law, but those statutes were repealed in 1978. The introduction of this bill aims to reinstate legal consequences for incestuous acts, which are not currently addressed under existing sexual offense laws.