A bill that would have imposed mandatory minimum prison terms for those who sexually assault minors died with the end of the legislative session last week, but one of its prime backers says it will be dealt with in the new session.
Sen. Tom Kean Jr., one of the prime sponsors, said the so-called Jessica Lunsford Act will impose mandatory terms on repeat offenders. It has been reintroduced in this new term.
There were different theories regarding why the bill was not posted for a vote last week as the previous legislative session expired.
“I have no explanation’’ for why the bill was not posted for a vote, said Greg Quinlan of the N.J. Family Policy Council.
Quinlan said that while he had no firsthand knowledge of what happened, he speculated the lingering feud between Kean and Senate President Steve Sweeney may have come into play because Kean is one of the prime sponsors of the Senate version.
But Kean discounted that theory last week and said the problem was how the bill has changed since its inception.
The Senate passed a strong bill, he said, but the Assembly watered it down before passing it nearly one year ago.
Sweeney’s office also indicated that the Senate version is the preferred version.
The bill, among other things, would impose mandatory terms on those who sexually assault children under 13.
As often happens in Statehouse committee rooms, bills go through a metamorphosis.
Provisions of a minimum of 25 years in prison became 15 years minimum; a section regarding minimum terms for hindering prosecution was eliminated; and provisions were added to allow for negotiated pleas in consideration of the victims.
Quinlan said he would have preferred the tougher provisions of the original bill, but he recognized the reality of getting a bill passed sometimes necessitates compromises, and said he would have preferred that the amended version be put up for a vote.
But Kean indicated he was dissatisfied with the changes and expressed particular concern over the removal of the section regarding hindering.
But he is not giving up on winning approval for the stronger version. “My anticipation is that we can get this bill done,’’ he said. “With continued pressure we can get it done.”
Jessica Lunsford was a 9-year-old Florida resident who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by a registered sex offender.
The legislation in New Jersey under various sponsors goes back to 2005 but the bill has never been able to win a final passage. ..Source.. by Bill Mooney
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