All Roll Calls
Yes: 150 • No: 0
New JerseyS3201220th Legislature (2024-2025)Senate
Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances.
Sponsored By: Wayne P. DeAngelo (Democratic), Vin Gopal (Democratic), Linda R. Greenstein (Democratic), Alex Sauickie (Republican), William W. Spearman (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
More workers gain bodily-fluid assault protections
The law expands bodily-fluid assault protections to court service officers, paid or volunteer firefighters, and emergency first-aid or medical workers. These workers join the law enforcement, corrections, probation, and other workers already covered.
Narrower mandatory sentencing for officer assaults
Second-degree officer assault triggers the No Early Release Act's mandatory prison term only when it causes serious bodily injury. Without that injury, the offense is excluded from that mandatory term. This exclusion does not eliminate other prison penalties.
Higher penalties for serious officer assaults
Assaulting a law enforcement officer becomes a second-degree crime when it causes serious bodily injury. The same upgrade applies to bodily-fluid assaults against covered public-safety workers. Serious injury means a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, or long-term loss or impairment of a body part or organ. Second-degree crimes carry 5–10 years in prison and fines up to $150,000. Third-degree penalties are 3–5 years and up to $15,000; fourth-degree penalties are up to 18 months and $10,000. Officer-assault convictions remain separate from convictions for other crimes. People charged with second-degree officer assault cannot apply for the Pretrial Intervention Program. The law took effect upon enactment.
Disease testing after bodily-fluid assaults
People charged under the covered assault laws involving bodily fluids must provide samples for disease testing with consent or a court warrant. A warrant requires probable cause that their blood or other bodily fluid contacted the victim and created a disease-transmission risk. Testing must occur at a laboratory licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health. Victims receive any positive communicable-disease results. Samples obtained by warrant can be used only for disease testing unless police obtain a separate warrant for another investigative use. Samples must be destroyed after testing.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Wayne P. DeAngelo
Democratic • House
Vin Gopal
Democratic • Senate
Linda R. Greenstein
Democratic • Senate
Alex Sauickie
Republican • House
William W. Spearman
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Carmen F. Amato Jr.
Republican • Senate
Atkins, Reginald W.
Affiliation unavailable
Rosaura Bagolie
Democratic • House
Linda S. Carter
Democratic • House
Robert D. Clifton
Republican • House
Joe Danielsen
Democratic • House
Christopher P. DePhillips
Republican • House
Margie Donlon M.D.
Democratic • House
Mitchelle Drulis
Democratic • House
Dawn Fantasia
Republican • House
Roy Freiman
Democratic • House
Michael Inganamort
Republican • House
Paul Kanitra
Republican • House
Marenco, Julio
Affiliation unavailable
Antwan L. McClellan
Republican • House
Gregory P. McGuckin
Republican • House
Carol A. Murphy
Democratic • House
Declan J. O'Scanlon Jr.
Republican • Senate
Luanne M. Peterpaul Esq.
Democratic • House
William B. Sampson IV
Democratic • House
Gary S. Schaer
Democratic • House
Erik K. Simonsen
Republican • House
Parker Space
Republican • Senate
Sterley S. Stanley
Democratic • House
Douglas J. Steinhardt
Republican • Senate
Michael L. Testa Jr.
Republican • Senate
Michael Venezia
Democratic • House
Jay Webber
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 9/30/2024
CONCUR ASMB AMEND
Yes: 34 • No: 0
House vote • 9/26/2024
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 76 • No: 0
Senate vote • 6/28/2024
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor — P.L.2024, c.94.
11/18/2024GovernorPassed Senate, PBH — (34-0)
9/30/2024SenateReceived in Senate, 2RSC
9/30/2024SenatePassed Assembly — (76-0-0)
9/26/2024HouseSubstituted for A2378 (2R)
9/26/2024HouseREP/ACA, 2nd Reading in Assembly
9/23/2024HouseReported, Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
9/12/2024HouseReceived in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
6/28/2024HousePassed Senate — (40-0)
6/28/2024SenateReported, 2nd Reading in Senate
6/26/2024SenateReferred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
6/13/2024SenateREP/SCA, 2nd Reading in Senate
6/13/2024SenateIntroduced, 1st Reading in Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
5/9/2024Senate
Bill Text
Version RI
2/4/2025
Version PL2024
1/15/2025
Version AL2024
12/5/2024
9/30/24; 2R
9/30/2024
Assembly Appropriations (9/23/24 2R)
9/27/2024
Assembly Appropriations Substitute (9/23/24 1R)
9/24/2024
Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Substitute (9/12/24 1R)
9/13/2024
7/1/24; 1R
7/1/2024
Senate Law and Public Safety (6/13/24 1R)
7/1/2024
Senate Budget and Appropriations Substitute (6/26/24 1R)
6/27/2024
Senate Law and Public Safety Substitute (6/13/24)
6/14/2024
As Introduced
5/10/2024
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