This bill introduces new penalties for individuals who fail to cooperate with child abuse investigations and enhances the penalties for failing to report child abuse and sexual abuse. Specifically, it amends Section 7 of P.L.1971, c.437 (C.9:6-8.14) to classify the failure to report an act of child abuse as a crime of the fourth degree, up from a disorderly persons offense. This change means that individuals who knowingly fail to report child abuse, while having reasonable cause to believe it has occurred, could face up to 18 months of incarceration and fines up to $10,000. Additionally, the bill raises the penalty for failing to report sexual abuse against a child from a fourth-degree crime to a third-degree crime, which carries a potential prison term of three to five years and fines up to $15,000.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a new provision that makes it a crime of the fourth degree for any person who knowingly fails to cooperate with investigations of child abuse or neglect conducted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency or other designated entities within the Department of Children and Families. This legislative change aims to strengthen the accountability of individuals in protecting children from abuse and neglect by ensuring that they report and cooperate with investigations. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 9:6-8.14