Albano, Assembly Colleages Introduce Internet Safety Bill Package

TRENTON – Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam and 11 other Assembly Democratic lawmakers Feb. 23 announced they’ve introduced a sweeping 10-bill package that would give law enforcement enhanced abilities to crackdown on child Internet crimes.
According to a release, the 10-bill package, among other things, would upgrade penalties and crimes for offenders who communicate in a harassing, sexually offensive or abusive manner with minors on Web sites and through electronic communication.
The bills are part of Attorney General Anne Milgram’s Internet safety initiatives.
“This 10-bill package would give law enforcement the tools they need to better protect children who use the Internet for education and recreation,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer), who is sponsoring each bill. “No longer will Web sites be the playgrounds of criminals looking to prey on vulnerable children.”
“My office combats Internet threats by employing an aggressive, multi-pronged approach ranging from criminal and civil investigations to cooperative efforts with networking sites and service providers to education initiatives aimed at teachers, school administrators, parents and students,” Milgram said. “But as we pursued our initiatives, it became clear that it was essential that our criminal and civil enforcement statutes address evolving threats posed by bad actors online. This comprehensive Internet safety legislative package addresses those issues.”
Also sponsoring the legislation are Assembly members Wayne P. DeAngelo, Nelson T. Albano, Gary S. Schaer, Matthew W. Milam, Frederick Scalera, John J. Burzichelli, Peter J. Barnes III, Elease Evans, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., Pamela R. Lampitt, Gordon M. Johnson and Douglas H. Fisher.
“It’s a parent’s worst nightmare to realize their child’s safety has been jeopardized simply by using a computer,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “It’s time New Jersey upgrades its crimes and penalties to assist law enforcement in preventing, investigating and cracking down on cyberspace crimes and abuses that threaten the welfare of our children.”
The 10-bill package is comprised of legislation that would:
· Amend the state’s luring and enticing and endangering the welfare of minors laws to, among other things, expand the definition of “electronic means” to include not only the Internet but also any electronic communication device. (A-3754 –
Greenstein/Milam/Barnes/DeAngelo)
· Make it a crime to communicate or transmit sexually suggestive communications to a minor. (A-3755 –
Milam/Greenstein/Schaer/DeAngelo)
· Upgrade certain sex crimes against minors. (A-3756 – Greenstein/Albano/DeAngelo/Vainieri Huttle)
· Provide penalties for sexually offensive or abusive communication through social networking Web sites. (A-3757 – Albano/Vainieri Huttle/DeAngelo/Greenstein)
· Require persons subject to Megan’s Law registration to provide law enforcement with any Internet user names. (A-3758 – Greenstein/Diegnan/Barnes/Schaer)
· Upgrade offense of harassment involving the Internet and minors. (A-3759 – Evans/Lampitt/Scalera/Greenstein)
· Authorize wiretap orders for the investigation of luring or enticing a child, identity theft, stalking and harassment under certain circumstances. (A-3760 – Schaer/Johnson/Albano/Greenstein)
· Authorize the interception of wire or electronic communications of a suspected computer trespasser under certain circumstances. (A-3761 – Scalera/Fisher/Milam/Greenstein)
· Require information technology professionals who find child pornography on computers to report the finding to law enforcement. (A-3762 –DeAngelo/Burzichelli/Schaer/Greenstein)
· Create a “Computer Crime Prevention Fund” by imposing a penalty for certain crimes and offenders. (A-3763 –Barnes/Albano/Evans/Greenstein).
“Law enforcement needs the tools to keep pace with today’s ever-changing technology and ward off predators who lurk behind a computer screen in hopes of preying on children,” said Albano (D-Atlantic/CapeMay/Cumberland). “This is a common-sense step forward to help give parents peace of mind that we’re doing all we can to protect their children in this technological age.”
“Every parent worries when their child logs onto a computer and enters that new world that has evolved on the Internet,” said Milam (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “It can be a wonderful tool for education and keeping in touch with friends and loved ones, but it can also be a dangerous place. These bills aim to give authorities what they need to keep pace with the criminals.”