NJ A4537

Expands mandatory reporting of vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation from specific professionals (healthcare workers, law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs) to all persons in New Jersey who have reasonable cause to believe abuse is occurring

Failure to report becomes a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, up to $10,000 fine, plus a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation

Willfully interfering with a court-ordered evaluation of a vulnerable adult abuse report becomes a fourth-degree crime

Willfully interfering with the provision of protective services to a vulnerable adult becomes a fourth-degree crime

Requires the Department of Human Services to create a publicly accessible online registry of individuals with substantiated acts of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults, including offender names and offense descriptions