For Immediate Release

March 1, 2004

GILL STATEMENT ON COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF CHARITABLE IMMUNITY REFORMS

TRENTON - Senator Nia H. Gill, D-Essex and Passaic, the Vice-Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Judiciary Committee's unanimous approval of a bill she sponsored which would reform the charitable immunity system in New Jersey to make charitable organizations liable if they negligently hired, retained, or supervised a sex offender and if that employment resulted in the molestation of a minor:

"Many victims of sexual crime often live in fear and guilt, and that feeling is compounded by the fact that they are often victimized by someone they had trusted, such as a teacher, coach, or member of the clergy. Combined with the fact that in New Jersey, organizations who put children in dangerous situations are shielded from liability to begin with due to charitable immunity edicts, and you have a system which greatly restricts individuals from seeking justice when it comes to sexual molestation cases involving charitable groups.

"However, victims need not be powerless when it comes to asking charitable organizations to meet their responsibilities to protect children in their care. With this bill we can begin to break down the barriers that keep victims of sexual molestation from the justice they so richly deserve. It is time for charitable immunity reform to come to New Jersey , so that victims do not have to suffer in secret shame any longer.

"Currently, New Jersey is one of only nine states that still follow the doctrine of charitable immunity, and unfortunately, we are behind the curve on this important child safety issue. We should pass charitable immunity reform quickly, in order to ensure the safety of our children."