This bill amends New Jersey's bribery statute, specifically N.J.S.2C:27-2, to clarify that the offense of bribery applies to unlawful gratuities received both before and after official acts. The amendment introduces the definition of "benefit as consideration" to include any benefit not authorized by law and specifies that this applies regardless of when the benefit was received in relation to the official act. This change aims to ensure that individuals cannot evade prosecution by claiming that the benefit was conferred after the official act was performed.

The bill responds to a recent ruling by the United States Supreme Court in Snyder v. United States, which limited the application of the federal bribery statute to instances where benefits are given before an official act. By amending the state law, New Jersey seeks to align its bribery statute with a broader interpretation that holds individuals accountable for bribery regardless of the timing of the benefit in relation to the official act. The bill emphasizes that it is a crime of the second degree, with lesser offenses classified as a crime of the third degree if the benefit's value is $200 or less.