Politics & Government
Assembly Judiciary Committee Passes Jessica Lunsford Act
The next step is to go before a vote of the General Assembly.
One week after the Jessica Lunsford Act was unanimously moved out of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Assembly version of the bill saw some movement.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee unanimously passed bill A-2027, the Assembly bill concerning the Jessica Lunsford Act, the New Jersey Assembly Republicans office announced on Thursday, Sept. 27. The next step is to go before a full vote of the General Assembly.
The bill mandates that a person who is found guilty of aggravated sexual assault on an child under the age of 13, is guilty of a first degree crime. Mandatory sentencing would be between 25 years and life in prison, and those convicted would have to serve 25 years before being eligible for parole.
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The bill had 41 sponsors, including District 9 representatives Brian E. Rumpf and DiAnne C. Gove.
The legislation’s primary sponsor was Assemblyman Eric Munoz, who died in March, 2009. He initially sponsored the bill on 2005. It received committee approvals in three prior legislative sessions, but was never posted for a vote in the General Assembly.
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Nancy F. Munoz succeeded her husband, Eric, following his death in 2009, and has been the primary sponsor of the legislation, including the current bill, according to the Assembly Republicans’ Office.
“New Jersey’s children need to be protected from pedophiles who prey on innocent victims,” Munoz said in a release. “The overwhelming bipartisan support for this legislation shows that our state will protect and defend its citizens, especially children. My husband was intent on passing this important legislation and I am proud to continue the effort. The support and perseverance of all the sponsors is testimony to the importance of the Jessica Lunsford Act. I hope that Speaker Oliver will post this bill for a vote as soon as possible.”
Nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered by a registered sex offender in 2005. Lunsford was from Florida, and many states have enacted “Jessica’s Law” since. New Jersey is one of the few remaining states that have not.
Similar legislation was moved out of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee last week, and is going for a second reading on the Senate floor.
