The proposed bill seeks to enhance the legal protections for elected public officials and their immediate families by classifying specific offenses against them as more serious crimes. It amends N.J.S.2C:12-1 to classify any assault against an elected public official or their immediate family as aggravated assault. The bill also establishes that stalking and harassment against an elected official or their immediate family will be classified as a crime of the third degree, which carries penalties of three to five years of imprisonment and fines up to $15,000. The definition of "immediate family member" is clarified to include a spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner, parent, sibling, child, and stepchild, as related by blood or law.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that in cases of stalking or harassment against an elected public official or their immediate family, the Superintendent of the State Police, in collaboration with local police, must provide police protection to the affected individuals, with the duration of protection determined on a case-by-case basis. This legislative change reflects a growing concern for the safety of public officials and their families, aiming to deter violence and provide law enforcement with clearer guidelines for prosecution in such cases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:12-10