The bill amends the New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA) to ensure that a final restraining order remains valid after the death of the plaintiff, as long as there are other individuals listed as protected persons on the order. This change clarifies that the order does not automatically terminate upon the death of the primary recipient, thereby extending legal protection to additional individuals named in the order.

Moreover, the bill requires prosecutors to notify all protected persons when a defendant charged with domestic violence is released from custody, rather than just the primary victim. This amendment addresses a gap in current law and aims to enhance the safety and awareness of all individuals covered by the restraining order. Additionally, it stipulates that modifications or dissolutions of final restraining orders can only be conducted by the original issuing judge or a judge with access to the complete hearing records, reinforcing the importance of judicial oversight in these matters.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:25-26.1, 2C:25-29