An Act concerning crimes with bail restrictions and amending P.L.1994, c.144.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 1 of P.L.1994, c.144 (C.2A:162-12) is amended to read as follows:

1. a. As used in this section:

"Crime with bail restrictions" means a crime of the first or second degree charged under any of the following sections:

(1) Murder 2C:11-3.

(2) Manslaughter 2C:11-4.

(3) Kidnapping 2C:13-1.

(4) Sexual Assault 2C:14-2.

(5) Robbery 2C:15-1.

(6) Carjacking P.L.1993, c.221, s.1 (C.2C:15-2).

(7) Arson and Related Offenses 2C:17-1.

(8) Causing or Risking Widespread

Injury or Damage 2C:17-2.

(9) Burglary 2C:18-2.

(10) Theft by Extortion 2C:20-5.

(11) Endangering the Welfare of Children 2C:24-4.

(12) Resisting Arrest; Eluding Officer 2C:29-2.

(13) Escape 2C:29-5.

(14) Corrupting or Influencing a Jury 2C:29-8.

(15) Possession of Weapons for Unlawful Purposes 2C:39-4.

(16) Weapons Training for Illegal Activities

P.L.1983, c.229, s.1 (C.2C:39-14).

(17) Soliciting or Recruiting Gang Members

P.L.1999, c.160, s.1 (C.2C:33-28).

"Crime with bail restrictions" also shall include a second, third or fourth degree crime charged under the following sections:

(18) Possession of a sawed-off shotgun or defaced firearm in violation of subsections b. or d. of N.J.S. 2C:39-3.

(19) Unlawful possession of a machine gun, handgun, rifle or shotgun in violation of subsections a., b., or c. of N.J.S. 2C:39-5.

(20) Possession of a firearm while in the course of committing drug distribution or possession with intent to distribute offense in violation of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1998, c.26 (C.2C:39-4.1).

(21) Possession of certain weapons by person previously convicted of specified offenses in violation of subsections a. or paragraph 2 or 3 of subsection b. of section 6 of P.L.1979, c.179 (C.2C:39-7).

(22) Manufacture, transport, or disposition of a machine gun, sawed-off shotgun, or assault firearm in violation of subsections a., b., or g. of N.J.S.2C:39-9.

(23) Defacement of a firearm in violation of subsection e. of N.J.S.2C:39-9.

(24) Aggravated assault while in possession of a firearm in violation of subsection b. of N.J.S. 2C:12-1.

(25) Aggravated criminal sexual contact while in possession of a firearm in violation of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-3.

"Crime with bail restrictions" also includes any first or second degree drug-related crimes under chapter 35 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes and any first or second degree racketeering crimes under chapter 41 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

"Crime with bail restrictions" also includes any crime or offense involving domestic violence, as defined in subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1991, c. 261 (C.2C:25-19), where the defendant was subject to a temporary or permanent restraining order issued pursuant to the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.) and is charged with a crime committed against a person protected under the order or where the defendant is charged with contempt pursuant to N.J.S.2C:29-9.

b. Subject to the provisions of subsection c. of this section, a person charged with a crime with bail restrictions may post the required amount of bail only in the form of:

(1) Full cash;

(2) A surety bond executed by a corporation authorized under chapter 31 of Title 17 of the Revised Statutes; or

(3) A bail bond secured by real property situated in this State with an unencumbered equity equal to the amount of bail undertaken plus $20,000.

c. There shall be a presumption in favor of the court designating the posting of full United States currency cash bail to the exclusion of other forms of bail when a defendant is charged with an offense as set forth in subsection a. of this section and:

(1) has two other indictable cases pending at the time of the arrest; or

(2) has two prior convictions for a first or second degree crime or for a violation of section 1 of P.L.1987, c.101 (C.2C:35-7) or any combination thereof; or

(3) has one prior conviction for murder, aggravated manslaughter, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping or bail jumping; or

(4) was on parole at the time of the arrest; or

(5) was subject to a temporary or permanent restraining order issued pursuant to the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.), was charged with a crime committed against a person protected under that order, including a charge of contempt pursuant to N.J.S.2C:29-9, and either: (a) is charged with commission of a domestic violence crime that resulted in serious bodily injury to the victim; or (b) has at least one prior conviction for a crime or offense involving domestic violence against the same victim or has previously violated a final restraining order protecting the same victim,

unless the court finds on the record that another form of bail authorized in subsection b. of this section will ensure the defendant's presence in court when required.

d. When bail is posted in the form of a bail bond secured by real property, the owner of the real property, whether the person is admitted to bail or a surety, shall also file an affidavit containing:

(1) A legal description of the real property;

(2) A description of each encumbrance on the real property;

(3) The market value of the unencumbered equity owned by the affiant as determined in a full appraisal conducted by an appraiser licensed by the State of New Jersey; and

(4) A statement that the affiant is the sole owner of the unencumbered equity.

e. Nothing herein is intended to preclude a court from releasing a person on the person's own recognizance when the court determines that such person is deserving.

(cf: P.L.2011, c.138, s.1)

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill places bail restriction on certain firearms related crimes enumerated under the "Graves Act."

Generally, a court may allow defendants to be released on bail after they post 10 percent of the amount of bail in cash. Current law, however, provides that defendants charged with certain violent crimes of the first or second degree are ineligible for the 10 percent cash option and are subject to restrictions when posting bail. These restrictions include posting bail in the form of a full cash amount, a surety bond issued by a licensed corporation, or a bail bond secured by real property situated in the State with an unencumbered equity equal to the amount of bail plus $20,000.

P.L.1981, c.31, also known as the "Graves Act," sets forth mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for individuals convicted of certain firearms related crimes or crimes where the offender possessed or used a firearm during the commission of the crime.

This bill would add certain "Graves Act" offenses to the list of crimes with bail restrictions. The list of offenses would be expanded to include the following second, third, and fourth degree crimes:

� Possession of a sawed-off shotgun or defaced firearm;

� Unlawful possession of a machine gun, handgun, rifle or shotgun;

� Possession of a firearm while in the course of committing drug distribution or possession with intent to distribute offense;

� Possession of certain weapons by person previously convicted of specified offenses;

� Manufacture, transport, or disposition of a machine gun, sawed-off shotgun, or assault firearm;

� Defacement of a firearm;

� Aggravated assault while in possession of a firearm; and

� Aggravated criminal sexual contact while in possession of a firearm.

The provisions of this bill are based on recommendations made in the New Jersey SAFE Task Force Report, which was issued on April 10, 2013.