Current and Past Legislative Advocacy
Issues We’re Working ON
- NJCASA supports S2656, which requires access to law enforcement disciplinary records as government records and requires such records to be retained for a certain period of time.
- NJCASA supports legislation that honors and affirms bodily autonomy and closes legal loopholes that allow for non-consensual invasive physical exams. S1771 / A1489 and A3249 / A3250 / S164 work to address this practice in the medical and judiciary setting, respectively, and NJCASA is committed to working with the sponsors to ensure they offer the broadest protections possible. To learn more about NJCASA’s position on this practice in the medical setting see our white paper, and to learn more about our position on the judiciary setting see our full statement.
- NJCASA is in favor of A2748, which would create criminal penalties for nonconsensually removing a condom or other sexual protective device during sexual activity (commonly known as “stealthing”).
- NJCASA strenuously opposes proposed changes to federal Title IX requirements, specifically concerning the proposed harsh definition of sexual harassment, change to geography of where schools must respond, and change to the standard of evidence used for deciding cases involving sexual violence. Read our full federal comment here.
legislative victories
- NJCASA advocated for SJR79, which established a commission to study sexual misconduct by staff against people who are incarcerated in N.J. prisons, including adherence to the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
- NJCASA advocated for S875 / A1711, which created a bill of rights for survivors of sexual violence. Learn more.
- NJCASA supported S2707, which created a statewide taskforce to address child sexual abuse prevention.
- NJCASA advocated for and testified in support of S477 / A3648’s expansion of the civil statute of limitations for survivors of sexual violence. Learn more.
- Alongside Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey and 16 allied organizations, NJCASA successfully advocated for the Safer Schools Bill (A4442 / S2917), which requires schools to disclose any past reports of sexual abuse and/or misconduct by employees who apply for a new job at an N.J. school. Learn more.
- NJCASA supported A1827 / S2171, the New Jersey Earned Sick Leave Law, which guarantees the right for N.J. workers to accrue and take paid sick leave without loss of wages. NJCASA recognizes the physical, mental, and emotional effects of sexual violence that may necessitate time away from work.
- NJCASA advocated for and testified in support of A2167 / S1739, which strengthens and expands training on sexual violence for our state’s law enforcement officers. Learn more.
- NJCASA’s advocacy contributed to the passing of the Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act, which allows more survivors of sexual violence to apply for a protective order against the person who harmed them. Learn more about the law and applying for a protective order.
- NJCASA endorsed S2812 / A4156, which created the Governor’s Campus Sexual Assault Task Force. Learn more about the Task Force and read the report.