A5610

An Act concerning possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons and amending various parts of the statutory law.

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

1. Section 1 of P.L.1979, c.264 (C.2C:33-15) is amended to read as follows:

1. a. (1) Any person under the legal age to purchase [alcoholic beverages, or under the legal age to purchase] cannabis items, who knowingly possesses without legal authority or who knowingly consumes any [alcoholic beverage,] cannabis item, marijuana, or hashish in any school, public conveyance, public place, or place of public assembly, or motor vehicle shall be subject to the following consequences:

(a) for a first violation, a written warning issued by a law enforcement officer to the underage person. The written warning shall include the person's name, address, and date of birth, and a copy of the warning containing this information, plus a sworn statement that includes a description of the relevant facts and circumstances that support the officer's determination that the person committed the violation, shall be temporarily maintained in accordance with this section only for the purposes of determining a second or subsequent violation subject to the consequences set forth in subparagraph (b) or (c) of this paragraph. If the violation of this section is by a person under 18 years of age, a written notification concerning the violation shall be provided to the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the underage person in accordance with section 3 of P.L.1991, c.169 (C.33:1-81.1a).

(b) for a second violation, a written warning issued by a law enforcement officer to the underage person indicating that a second violation has occurred, which includes the person's name, address, and date of birth. If the violation is by a person 18 years of age or older, the officer shall provide the person with informational materials about how to access community services provided by public or private agencies and organizations that shall assist the person with opportunities to access further social services, including, but not limited to, counseling, tutoring programs, mentoring services, and faith-based or other community initiatives. If the violation is by a person under 18 years of age, a written notification concerning the second violation shall be provided to the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the underage person in accordance with section 3 of P.L.1991, c.169 (C.33:1-81.1a). The written notification shall include the same or similar informational materials about how to access community services provided by public or private agencies and organizations as those provided directly by a law enforcement officer to a person 18 years of age or older who commits a second violation of this paragraph. A copy of the second written warning to the underage person, and, if applicable, the written notification to the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the underage person concerning the second warning, plus a sworn statement that includes a description of the relevant facts and circumstances that support the officer's determination that the person committed the second violation, shall be temporarily maintained in accordance with this section only for the purposes of determining a subsequent violation subject to the consequences set forth in subparagraph (c) of this paragraph.

(c) for a third or subsequent violation, a write-up issued by a law enforcement officer to the underage person indicating that a third or subsequent violation has occurred, which includes the person's name, address, and date of birth. If the violation is by a person 18 years of age or older, the officer shall include with the write-up a referral for accessing community services provided by a public or private agency or organization, and provide notice to that agency or organization of the referral which may also be used to initiate contact with the person, and the agency or organization shall offer assistance to the person with opportunities to access further social services, including but not limited to counseling, tutoring programs, mentoring services, and faith-based or other community initiatives. If the violation is by a person under 18 years of age, a written notification concerning the third or subsequent violation shall be provided to the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the underage person in accordance with section 3 of P.L.1991, c.169 (C.33:1-81.1a). The written notification shall include a referral for the person and the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the underage person for accessing community services provided by a public or private agency or organization, and provide notice to that agency or organization of the referral which may also then be used to initiate contact with both persons, and the agency or organization shall offer assistance to both with opportunities to access further social services, including counseling, tutoring programs, mentoring services, and faith-based or other community initiatives. A copy of a write-up for a third or subsequent violation, the written notification to the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the underage person, if applicable, and accompanying referrals, plus a sworn statement that includes a description of the relevant facts and circumstances that support the officer's determination that the person committed the third or subsequent violation, shall be temporarily maintained in accordance with this section only to the extent necessary to track referrals to agencies and organizations, as well as for the purposes of determining a subsequent violation subject to the consequences set forth in this subparagraph.

The failure of a person under the legal age to purchase [alcoholic beverages or] cannabis items, or the failure of a parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the underage person, to accept assistance from an agency or organization to which a law enforcement referral was made, or to access any community services provided by that agency or organization shall not result in any summons, initiation of a complaint, or other legal action to be adjudicated and enforced in any court.

(d) Any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages who knowingly possesses without legal authority or who knowingly consumes any alcoholic beverage in any school, public conveyance, public place, or place of public assembly, or motor vehicle shall be charged with a violation of this subparagraph on a complaint-summons and shall be subject to a fine of $100. If the violation of this subparagraph is by a person under 18 years of age, a written notification concerning the violation shall be provided to the parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the underage person in accordance with section 3 of P.L.1991, c.169 (C.33:1-81.1a).

The law enforcement officer also shall take possession of any alcoholic beverages from the person who committed the violation of this subparagraph.

(2) (a) A person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items is not capable of giving lawful consent to a search to determine a violation of this section, and a law enforcement officer shall not request that a person consent to a search for that purpose.

(b) The odor of an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, cannabis, or cannabis item, or burnt marijuana, hashish, cannabis, or cannabis item, shall not constitute reasonable articulable suspicion to initiate an investigatory stop of a person, nor shall it constitute probable cause to initiate a search of a person or that person's personal property to determine a violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection. Additionally, the unconcealed possession of [an alcoholic beverage,] marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item in violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection, observed in plain sight by a law enforcement officer, shall not constitute probable cause to initiate a search of a person or that person's personal property to determine any further violation of that paragraph or any other violation of law. The unconcealed possession of an alcoholic beverage in violation of subparagraph (d) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, observed in plain sight by a law enforcement officer, shall constitute probable cause to initiate a search of a person or that person’s personal property to determine a further violation of subparagraph (d) of paragraph (1) of this subsection regarding the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages.

(3) A person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items who violates paragraph (1) of this subsection for possessing or consuming an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis item shall not be subject to arrest, shall not be transported to a police station, police headquarters, or other place of law enforcement operations, and shall not otherwise be subject to detention or be taken into custody by a law enforcement officer at or near the location where the violation occurred, except to the extent that detention or custody at or near the location is required to issue a written warning or write-up, issue a complaint-summons, collect the information necessary to provide notice of a violation to a parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the underage person in accordance with section 3 of P.L.1991, c.169 (C.33:1-81a), or make referrals for accessing community services provided by a public or private agency or organization due to a third or subsequent violation, unless the person is being arrested, detained, or otherwise taken into custody for also committing another violation of law for which that action is legally permitted or required.

(4) Consistent with the provisions of subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2020, c.129 (C.40A:14-118.5), the video and audio recording functions of a law enforcement officer's body worn camera, as defined in that section, shall be activated whenever the law enforcement officer is responding to a call for service related to a violation or suspected violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection for possessing or consuming an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis item, or at the initiation of any other law enforcement or investigative encounter between an officer and a person related to a violation or suspected violation of that paragraph, and shall remain activated until the encounter has fully concluded and the officer leaves the scene of the encounter; provided, however, that the video and audio recording functions of a body worn camera shall not be deactivated pursuant to subparagraph (a) of paragraph (2) of subsection c. of P.L.2020, c.129 (C.40A:14-118.5), based on a request to deactivate the camera by a person who is the subject of a responsive call for service or law enforcement or investigative encounter related to a violation or suspected violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(5) As part of the process for the issuance of a written warning or write-up to a person for a violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the law enforcement officer shall take possession of any [alcoholic beverage,] marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item from the person, and any drug or cannabis paraphernalia for use with any marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item. The existence and description of the [alcoholic beverage,] marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item, and any drug or cannabis paraphernalia shall be included in the sworn statement that includes a description of the relevant facts and circumstances that support the officer's determination that the person committed a violation, and which record is temporarily maintained in accordance with this section to determine subsequent possession or consumption violations, and track referrals for accessing community services provided by a public or private agency or organization due to a third or subsequent violation. Any [alcoholic beverage,] marijuana, hashish, cannabis item, or drug or cannabis paraphernalia obtained by the law enforcement officer shall either be destroyed or secured for use in law enforcement training or educational programs in accordance with applicable law and directives issued by the Attorney General.

(6) With respect to any violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection concerning the possession or consumption of an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or any cannabis item:

(a) a person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items shall not be photographed or fingerprinted, notwithstanding any provisions of section 2 of P.L.1982, c.79 (C.2A:4A-61) to the contrary;

(b) (i) any copy of any written warning or write-up issued to a person under the legal age to purchase [alcoholic beverages or] cannabis items, written notification provided to the person's parent, guardian or other person having legal custody in accordance with section 3 of P.L.1991, c.169 (C.33:1-81.1a), sworn statement describing the relevant facts and circumstances that support an officer's determination that a person committed a violation, or referrals for accessing community services provided by a public or private agency or organization pertaining to a third or subsequent violation shall be segregated and maintained in a separate physical location or electronic repository or database from any other records maintained by a law enforcement agency, and reported to the Attorney General in a manner so that they are similarly segregated and maintained in a separate physical location or electronic repository or database from other law enforcement records accessible to the Attorney General and State and local law enforcement agencies, and shall not be transferred to or copied and placed in any other physical location or electronic repository or database containing any other law enforcement records. These records shall only be used to the extent necessary to determine a subsequent violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection or to track referrals to agencies and organizations, and shall not be revealed, reviewed, or considered in any manner with respect to any current or subsequent juvenile delinquency matter, including but not limited to, a charge, filing, eligibility or decision for diversion or discharge, or sentencing, other disposition, or related decision affecting the juvenile, or with respect to any current or subsequent prosecution for committing an offense or other violation of law, including but not limited to, a charge, filing, eligibility or decision for diversion or discharge, or sentencing, other disposition, or related decision affecting an adult under 21 years of age. Also, these records shall be deemed confidential and shall not be subject to public inspection or copying pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), and their existence shall not be acknowledged based upon any inquiry in the same manner as if the records were expunged records pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:52-15.

The Attorney General may use the records described herein to generate the number of occurrences and other statistics concerning first, second, third and subsequent violations of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the municipal, county or other geographic areas within which first, second, third and subsequent violations occur, and the law enforcement agencies involved in first, second, third and subsequent violations, which are to be compiled and made available by the Attorney General in accordance with section 4 of P.L.2021, c.25 (C.2C:33-15.1). The identity of any person named in a record shall not be revealed or included in the information to be compiled and made available in accordance with that section.

The records of violations shall only be maintained temporarily and shall be destroyed or permanently deleted as set forth in subparagraph (c) of this paragraph.

(ii) any records pertaining to a person's acceptance of assistance from an agency or organization to which a law enforcement referral was made shall not be revealed, reviewed, or considered in any manner with respect to any current or subsequent juvenile delinquency matter, including, but not limited to, a charge, filing, eligibility or decision for diversion or discharge, or sentencing, other disposition, or related decision affecting the juvenile, or with respect to any current or subsequent prosecution for committing an offense or other violation of law, including, but not limited to, a charge, filing, eligibility or decision for diversion or discharge, or sentencing, other disposition, or related decision affecting an adult under 21 years of age. Also, these records shall be deemed confidential and shall not be subject to public inspection or copying pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), and their existence shall not be acknowledged based upon any inquiry in the same manner as if the records were expunged records pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:52-15.

(c) All of the records maintained by a law enforcement agency and reported to the Attorney General as described in subsubparagraph (i) of subparagraph (b) of this paragraph shall be destroyed or permanently deleted by the law enforcement agency and Attorney General on the second anniversary following the creation of the record concerning a violation, or not later than the last day of the month in which that second anniversary date falls, or alternatively not later than the 21st birthday of a person who is the subject of a record, or not later than the last day of the month in which that birthday falls, whichever date occurs sooner, except that a record shall be maintained upon request by the person named in the record or representative thereof, the law enforcement officer who made the record, or the law enforcement agency currently maintaining the record if it involves a lawsuit, disciplinary complaint, or criminal prosecution arising from the violation described in the record, based on an assertion that the record has evidentiary or exculpatory value. Upon final disposition of the matter for which the extended record retention was requested, the record shall be destroyed or permanently deleted.

(d) A law enforcement officer shall be guilty of the crime of official deprivation of civil rights as set forth in section 3 of P.L.2021, c.25 (C.2C:30-6.1) for violating the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection that address law enforcement actions involving persons who are under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items.

b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2021, c.25)

c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2021, c.25)

d. Nothing in this act shall apply to possession of alcoholic beverages by any such person while actually engaged in the performance of employment pursuant to an employment permit issued by the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or for a bona fide hotel or restaurant, in accordance with the provisions of R.S.33:1-26, or while actively engaged in the preparation of food while enrolled in a culinary arts or hotel management program at a county vocational school or post-secondary educational institution; and nothing in this section shall apply to possession of cannabis items by any such person while actually engaged in the performance of employment by a cannabis establishment, distributor, or delivery service as permitted pursuant to the "New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act," P.L.2021, c.16 (C.24:6I-31 et al.).

e. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1991, c.169 (C.33:1-81.1a) shall apply to a parent, guardian or other person with legal custody of a person under 18 years of age who is found to be in violation of this section.

f. An underage person and one or two other persons shall be immune from prosecution under this section if:

(1) one of the underage persons called 9-1-1 and reported that another underage person was in need of medical assistance due to alcohol consumption, or the consumption of marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis item;

(2) the underage person who called 9-1-1 and, if applicable, one or two other persons acting in concert with the underage person who called 9-1-1 provided each of their names to the 9-1-1 first responder dispatcher;

(3) the underage person was the first person to make the 9-1-1 report; and

(4) the underage person and, if applicable, one or two other persons acting in concert with the underage person who made the 9-1-1 call remained on the scene with the person under the legal age in need of medical assistance until assistance arrived and cooperated with medical assistance and law enforcement personnel on the scene.

The underage person who received medical assistance also shall be immune from prosecution under this section.

g. For purposes of this section, an alcoholic beverage includes powdered alcohol as defined by R.S.33:1-1, a cannabis item includes any item available for lawful consumption pursuant to the "New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act," P.L.2021, c.16 (C.24:6I-31 et al.), and the terms "marijuana" and "hashish" have the same meaning as set forth in N.J.S.2C:35-2, and the terms "drug paraphernalia" and "cannabis paraphernalia" have the same meaning as set forth in N.J.S.2C:36-1 and section 3 of P.L.2021, c.16 (C.24:6I-33), respectively.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.447, s.4)

2. Section 4 of P.L.2021, c.25 (C.2C:33-15.1) is amended to read as follows:

4. a. (1) The Attorney General shall biannually issue a comprehensive report detailing the number of occurrences and other statistics, without revealing or including any personal identifying information, concerning first, second, third and subsequent violations of subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c) of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1979, c.264 (C.2C:33-15) involving the possession or consumption of any [alcoholic beverage,] marijuana, hashish, or cannabis items by persons under the legal age to purchase [alcoholic beverages or] cannabis items and the number of violations of subparagraph (d) of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1979, c.264 (C.2C:33-15) involving the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages, the municipal, county or other geographic areas within which [first, second, third and subsequent] the violations occur, and the law enforcement agencies involved in [first, second, third and subsequent] the violations, covering the previous six-month period. The initial report shall be issued by June 30, 2021, the second report shall be issued by January 30, 2022, and then the next report issued every six months thereafter. Each report shall also be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).

(2) The Attorney General shall also make reports available to the task force established pursuant to subsection b. of this section based on the Attorney General's periodic review of body worn camera recordings of law enforcement officers responding to a call for service related to a violation or suspected violation of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1979, c.264 (C.2C:33-15), or at the initiation of any other law enforcement or investigative encounter between an officer and a person related to a violation or suspected violation of that paragraph, which recordings are required to be made in accordance with paragraph (4) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1979, c.264 (C.2C:33-15). The periodic review shall be conducted using body worn camera recordings both selected by the Attorney General and randomly determined, and the task force may request an Attorney General review a particular municipality, region, or time period. The identity of any person included in a recording reviewed by the Attorney General shall be kept confidential and shall not be revealed to the members of the task force or any staff provided to the task force by the Department of Law and Public Safety pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection b. of this section to support its work.

b. (1) A taskforce shall be established in the Department of Law and Public Safety, comprised of 26 members to review each Attorney General report described in subsection a. of this section, and make recommendations thereon to the Governor and Legislature related to law enforcement activities to address the enforcement of underage possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis items in violation of section 1 of P.L.1979, c.264 (C.2C:33-15), as well as the broader issue of underage possession or consumption of these substances.

(2) The membership of the taskforce shall include the following individuals:

(a) the Attorney General, or a designee;

(b) the Public Defender, or a designee;

(d) the Commissioner of Education, or a designee;

(e) a representative from the Juvenile Justice Commission, appointed by the Governor;

(f) a representative from the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety, appointed by the Governor;

(g) the Chair of the Governor's Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Committee;

(h) two members appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate, at least one of whom shall be a member of the Legislative Black Caucus or Legislative Latino Caucus, determined in coordination with the members recommended by the Speaker of the General Assembly pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, so that there is at least one member of each caucus serving as a member of the task force;

(i) two members appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, at least one of whom shall be a member of the Legislative Black Caucus or Legislative Latino Caucus, determined in coordination with the members recommended by the Senate President pursuant to subparagraph (h) of this paragraph, so that there is at least one member of each caucus serving as a member of the task force;

(j) the Administrative Director of the Courts, or a designee;

(k) a representative from the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, appointed by the Governor;

(l) a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, appointed by the Governor;

(m) a representative from the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey who is actively and presently involved in juvenile matters, appointed by the Governor;

(n) a representative from the New Jersey Juvenile Officers Association, appointed by the Governor;

(o) one representative each from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Vera Institute of Justice, both appointed by the Governor;

(p) a representative of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, appointed by the Governor;

(q) a representative of Salvation and Social Justice, appointed by the Governor;

(r) a representative from the County Youth Services Commission Administrators, appointed by the Governor;

(s) a representative from the faith-based ethical community in New Jersey, appointed by the Governor;

(t) a representative of an employee organization representing employees who work at juvenile justice facilities, appointed by the Governor; and

(u) three representatives who have been involved with the New Jersey juvenile justice system, appointed by the Governor, including at least one representative of a non-profit organization that deals with juvenile justice issues and at least one individual who has been subject to the custody of the juvenile justice system.

(3) All members appointed by the Governor, other than the members of the Legislature recommended for appointment, shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The members of the Legislature shall serve on the task force during their elective term of office. Any vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.

(4) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.

(5) The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members. The task force shall choose a chairperson from among its members and shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.

(6) The Department of Law and Public Safety shall provide such stenographic, clerical, and other administrative assistants, and such professional staff as the task force requires to carry out its work.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.25, s.4)

3. Section 4 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C.2A:4A-23) is amended to read as follows:

4. Definition of delinquency. As used in this act, "delinquency" means the commission of an act by a juvenile which if committed by an adult would constitute:

a. A crime;

b. A disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense; or

c. A violation of any other penal statute, ordinance or regulation.

But, the commission of (1) an act which constitutes a violation of chapter 3, 4, 6 or 8 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes by a juvenile of any age; (2) an act relating to the ownership or operation of a motorized bicycle which constitutes a violation of chapter 3 or 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes by a juvenile of any age; (3) an act which constitutes a violation of article 3 or 6 of chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes pertaining to pedestrians and bicycles, by a juvenile of any age; (4) the commission of an act which constitutes a violation of P.L.1981, c.318 (C.26:3D-1 et seq.), P.L.1981, c.319 (C.26:3D-7 et seq.), P.L.1981, c.320 (C.26:3D-15 et seq.), P.L.1985, c.185 (C.26:3E-7 et seq.), P.L.1985, c.186 (C.26:3D-32 et seq.), N.J.S.2C:33-13, P.L.1985, c.318 (C.26:3D-38 et seq.), P.L.1985, c.381 (C.26:3D-46 et seq.), or of any amendment or supplement thereof, by a juvenile of any age;(5) an act which constitutes a violation of chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes relating to the regulation and registration of power vessels, by a juvenile of any age or section 2 of P.L.1987, c.453 (C.12:7-61); [or] (6) an act which constitutes a violation of a municipal ordinance enacted pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1992, c.132 (C.40:48-2.52) pertaining to curfew ordinances; or (7) an act which constitutes a violation of subparagraph (d) of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1979, c.264 (C.2C:33-15) pertaining to the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by a juvenile of any age shall not constitute delinquency as defined in this act. The municipal court having jurisdiction over a case involving a violation by a juvenile of a section of Title 26 listed in this subsection, Title 40 listed in this subsection or N.J.S.2C:33-13, shall forward a copy of the record of conviction in that case to the Family Part intake service of the county where the municipal court is located.

If a municipal court orders detention or imposes a term of imprisonment on a juvenile in connection with a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes, Title 40 of the Revised Statutes or N.J.S.2C:33-13, that detention or term of imprisonment shall be served at a suitable juvenile institution and not at a county jail or county workhouse.

(cf: P.L.1997, c.383, s.1)

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill revises the penalties for the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons.

Under current law, any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items who possesses or consumes alcoholic beverages or cannabis items, marijuana, or hashish in any school, public conveyance, public place, place of public assembly, or motor vehicle is subject to certain consequences, including a written warning or write-up, as appropriate, by a law enforcement officer to the underage person, and if the person is under 18 years of age, a written notification to the person’s parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the underage person. For certain violations, the law enforcement officer is also to provide informational materials regarding community services that will assist the person with opportunities to access further social services. Finally, current law provides that the officer is also to take possession of any alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item and any drug or cannabis paraphernalia as part of the process for the issuance of a written warning or write up.

Under this bill, any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages who knowingly possesses without legal authority or who knowingly consumes any alcoholic beverage in any school, public conveyance, public place, or place of public assembly, or motor vehicle is to be charged with a violation on a complaint-summons and subject to a fine of $100. If the violation is by a person under 18 years of age, a written notification concerning the violation is required to be provided to the parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the underage person. The bill provides that a violation of this provision does not constitute delinquency under current law. The bill also provides that a law enforcement officer is required to take possession of any alcoholic beverages from the person who committed the violation.

Further, under current law, the unconcealed possession of an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item in violation of current law, observed in plain sight by a law enforcement officer, does not constitute probable cause to initiate a search of a person or that person’s personal property to determine a further violation of law. Under this bill, the unconcealed possession of an alcoholic beverage, observed in plain sight by a law enforcement officer, would constitute probable cause to initiate a search of a person or that person’s personal property to determine a further violation of current law regarding the underage possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages.

In addition, under current law, the Attorney General is to biannually issue a report detailing the number of occurrences and other statistics concerning first, second, third, and subsequent violations involving the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis items by underage persons, the municipal, county, or other geographic areas within which first, second, third, and subsequent violations occur, and the law enforcement agencies involved in first, second, third, and subsequent violations, covering the previous six month period.

This bill makes clarifying changes regarding the information the report is required to contain for violations for the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons as these persons would no longer be issued first, second, third, and subsequent violations under the bill.

According to the sponsor, alcohol is the number one drug of choice for young people in this country, with research indicating that the average age of first use of alcohol is 11 years old. Roughly half of children have already tried alcohol by age 15. Research indicates that young people in this State appear to be experimenting with alcohol at a rate above that reported nationally, with approximately 407,000 underage youth consuming alcohol each year. Youth who start drinking before age 15 are six times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21.

According to the sponsor, underage drinking is a significant health problem in this country. Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience problems in school, such as higher rates of absences or lower grades; social problems, such as fighting or lack of participation in youth activities; legal problems, such as driving while intoxicated; disruption of normal growth or development; increased risk of suicide and homicide; alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes; misuse of other substances; changes in brain development that may have life-long effects; and alcohol poisoning. It is imperative to protect the youth in this State by preventing underage drinking and the related harmful effects.