TRENTON – Governor Chris Christie signed “Stephen Komninos’ Law” to strengthen protections for people with developmental disabilities. This legislation, named for a 22-year-old who died in a local group home, is the result of a collaboration with Stephen’s father, Tom, among other parental advocates and Senate President Stephen Sweeney.
“This new law strengthens protections for people with developmental disabilities and their families, requiring more state oversight and consistent supervision of community-based residential programs,” Governor Christie said. “It will help prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disabilities, establishing appropriately serious criminal penalties and mandating drug testing of staff members. This bipartisan effort balances the most-effective, efficient protections with the interests of confidentiality and flexibility in an unbiased process of investigating potential abuses. I thank Tom, the Senate President, and all of the other parents for providing invaluable input and cooperation to complete this compromise measure.”
The law, which incorporates Governor Christie’s recommendations:
Today’s action enhances the Governor’s commitment to protecting this vulnerable population. For example, in 2010, one of his first legislative acts as Governor established the Central Registry to ensure that people who have committed acts of abuse, neglect, or exploitation against individuals with developmental disabilities are prohibited from working with any other individuals with developmental disabilities. In 2015, the Governor signed legislation criminalizing the endangerment of a person with developmental disabilities and providing increased penalties for egregious actions against vulnerable New Jerseyans. In 2016, the Governor established a Task Force to analyze abuse, neglect and exploitation, specifically against senior citizens and people with disabilities. The Task Force, which has been meeting since January, is scheduled to present its findings in January 2018.