Bill Text: NJ A1680 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes crime for adult to misrepresent age in order to join youth serving organization.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee [A1680 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A1680-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOE HOWARTH
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes crime for adult to misrepresent age in order to join youth serving organization.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning child safety and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A person who is 18 years of age or older is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if that person:
(1) impersonates a child under the age of 18, or in any way misrepresents himself as being under the age of 18 for the purpose of gaining membership to a youth serving organization; or
(2) assists another adult, 18 years of age or older, in fraudulently gaining membership to a nonprofit youth serving organization by making a false or misleading statement regarding the age or identity of that adult in an oral or written application for membership to the youth serving organization.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-8 or any other provisions of law, a conviction arising under this section shall not merge with a conviction of any other criminal offense, nor shall such other conviction merge with a conviction under this section, and the court shall impose separate sentences upon each violation of this section and any other criminal offense.
c. For the purposes of this act, "youth serving organization" means a corporation, association or other organization established pursuant to Title 15 of the Revised Statutes, Title 15A of the New Jersey Statutes, or other law of this State, but excluding public and nonpublic schools, and which provides recreational, cultural, charitable, social or other activities or services for persons younger than 18 years of age.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a crime of the fourth degree for an adult to impersonate, assume a false identity, or in any way misrepresent himself as a child under the age of 18 for the purpose of joining a nonprofit youth serving organization. Under the provisions of the bill, it also would be a crime of the fourth degree for a person age 18 or older to assist another adult in fraudulently gaining membership to a nonprofit youth serving organization by making a false or misleading statement regarding the age or identity of that adult in an oral or written application for membership to the nonprofit youth serving organization.
A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill specifies that this crime would not merge with a conviction for any other criminal offense, and that the court is to impose separate sentences upon each violation of this section and any other criminal offense.
