A new law (S532) signed by Governor Jon Corzine on October 20, 2009, prohibits sex offenders from holding positions in youth serving organizations. These organizations include sports teams, leagues, athletic associations or any other corporation, association or organization (excluding schools, which are already covered under other laws), which provides recreational, educational, cultural, social, charitable or other activities or services to persons under 18 years of age.
Under the law, sex offenders are defined as persons who have been convicted, adjudicated delinquent, or found not guilty by reason of insanity for committing a broad range of sexual offenses as defined in the sex offender registration law (Megan’s law) and whose victim is under 18 years of age. Employers that hire, engage or appoint an excluded sex offender to serve in a youth serving organization in violation of this Act would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. The penalty for a crime of the fourth degree is imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The excluded sex offenders are prohibited from paid and unpaid positions.
Note: This article was published in the November 2009 issue of the New Jersey eAuthority.
