LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Restraining order expansion pending

There is a bill in the NJ Assembly, A2770, and its companion bill in the Senate, S1517, which would expand restraining orders beyond the restrictions of current domestic violence limitations. Last week, the Assembly and Senate’s Judiciary Committees and Law and Public Safety Committees reported favorably on the bill, moving it along toward potential consideration by the full legislature. 

Here is part of the statement from the Assembly Judiciary Committee : 

“As amended, this bill would authorize the Superior Court to issue permanent protective orders (PPO) and temporary protective orders (TPO) for persons victimized by acts or attempted acts of stalking, cyber-harassment, sexual assault, and criminal sexual contact in situations for which the domestic violence statutes are inapplicable because the victim lacks a prior or existing spousal, household, or dating relationship, or does not have or anticipate having a child in common with the offender.”

For more information, and to see its progress, go to the Legislature’s pages on this bill: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A2770 and https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/S1517