The proposed bill seeks to strengthen legal protections for elected public officials and their immediate families by categorizing assaults against them as aggravated assault, which carries harsher penalties. It defines "immediate family member" to encompass a spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner, parent, sibling, child, and stepchild, thereby broadening the scope of protection for those closely associated with elected officials. The bill also introduces new penalties for stalking and harassment, classifying these offenses as crimes of the third degree, which reflects a commitment to ensuring the safety of public officials and maintaining the integrity of their roles.

Furthermore, the bill amends N.J.S.2C:33-4 to establish that harassment against elected officials and their immediate families is a crime of the third degree, punishable by three to five years of imprisonment and fines up to $15,000. It mandates that the Superintendent of the State Police, in conjunction with local police, provide police protection to elected officials and their families when crimes are committed against them, with the duration of protection assessed on a case-by-case basis. The bill also deletes a previous provision in subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:33-4 and introduces new language in subsection f. to outline the increased penalties for crimes against elected officials and their families, responding to recent incidents of violence against public figures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:12-10