New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A2430

Introduced
1/9/24  

Caption

Imposes certain duties on persons or entities engaged in business pertaining to criminal records and imposes penalties for disseminating expunged record; increases maximum fine for current disorderly persons offense.

Impact

The bill places specific requirements on any organizations or individuals that are in the business of collecting, assembling, evaluating, or disseminating criminal records. These entities are mandated to regularly ensure the accuracy of their records, promptly delete expunged entries, and inform clients about the validity of the records they collect. The failure to comply with these requirements can lead to substantial financial penalties, which are designed to encourage responsible practices within the industry. This legislative move could have a significant impact on how businesses engaged in criminal record dissemination operate, potentially leading to increased operational costs and changes in their workflow to accommodate compliance needs.

Summary

Assembly Bill A2430 seeks to reform the regulations surrounding the dissemination and management of criminal records, specifically addressing the handling of expunged records. The bill is designed to enhance the protections for individuals with expunged criminal records and impose stricter penalties on those who violate these protections. The current maximum fine for revealing the existence of an expunged record is set to increase significantly, from $200 to $2,000, thereby elevating the consequences for such disclosures. This change is particularly noteworthy as it reflects a growing legislative emphasis on safeguarding the privacy and dignity of individuals seeking to move past their criminal histories.

Contention

There may be points of contention regarding the bill, especially from sectors involved in criminal record management. While the intention behind A2430 is ostensibly to protect individual privacy, those in the record dissemination business may argue that the bill imposes excessive regulations that could hinder their operations. The increased fines for disclosures of expunged records could also be contested, with opponents potentially raising concerns about the fairness and implications of such harsh penalties. Discussions surrounding the bill might therefore reflect a balance between enhancing individual rights and ensuring that legitimate operational needs within the record-keeping industry are met.

Companion Bills

NJ A1678

Carry Over Imposes certain duties on persons or entities engaged in business pertaining to criminal records and imposes penalties for disseminating expunged record; increases maximum fine for current disorderly persons offense.

Previously Filed As

NJ A1678

Imposes certain duties on persons or entities engaged in business pertaining to criminal records and imposes penalties for disseminating expunged record; increases maximum fine for current disorderly persons offense.

NJ A5669

Imposes restrictions on the use of expunged records.

NJ S4497

Imposes restrictions on the use of expunged records.

NJ S1536

Amends eligibility for expungement of criminal records.

NJ S1589

Amends eligibility for expungement of criminal records.

NJ A1858

Eliminates certain prohibitions to expungements of criminal records.

NJ A1704

Eliminates certain prohibitions to expungements of criminal records.

NJ HB1181

In dissemination of criminal history record information, further providing for use of records for employment; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

NJ SB1466

Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records, repeals Sealing Fee Fund.

NJ HB2723

Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records, repeals Sealing Fee Fund.

Similar Bills

NJ A1678

Imposes certain duties on persons or entities engaged in business pertaining to criminal records and imposes penalties for disseminating expunged record; increases maximum fine for current disorderly persons offense.

ND HB1134

Harassment of another.

MS SB2577

Digitizations; create a criminal penalty for the wrongful dissemination of.

MS HB1689

Election crime; create for dissemination of a deep fake within 90 days of an election.

CA AB2588

Crimes: obstruction of justice.

CA SB1066

Crimes: obstruction of justice.

PA HB2079

In penalties, providing for the offense of fraudulent misrepresentation of a candidate; and imposing a penalty.

PA HB1769

In dockets, indices and other records, providing for limited access to eviction information.