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The proposed law follows a state Supreme Court decision that New Jersey authorities didn't have jurisdiction to prosecute a a teacher and school administrator from Bergen County who were accused of sexual contact with three 17-year-old female students on a school-sponsored trip to Germany in 2011.
“Emotional trauma isn’t jurisdictional,” said Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, a co-sponsor of the bill. “It’s outrageous that school employees accused of sexual assault with students who were entrusted to their supervision on a field trip walked free because the alleged crime occurred in another country.
“Justice has been denied to the three victims and their parents in this case, but with this bill we can ensure that anyone who commits a similar crime, under similar circumstances, especially with minors, will be prosecuted and tried,” said Schepisi, who represents Bergen and Passaic.
“As a state, we have a responsibility to ensure that adults who assume the responsibility of caring for a child from New Jersey are held accountable,” added Assemblyman Gordon Johnson of Bergen County.
"To allow individuals who violate a trust and endanger our children to walk free because the state’s hands are tied is unacceptable,” said Assemblywoman Marlene Caride, who represents Bergen and Passaic counties. “This bill will ensure this jurisdictional shield from prosecution does not occur again.”
The statute provides that a person may be convicted in New Jersey if “the offense is based on a statute of this state which expressly prohibits conduct outside of the state, when the conduct bears a reasonable relation to an interest of this state.”
If also approved by the state Senate, the bill would go to Gov. Christie's desk to become law.
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