Which laws are working in New Jersey to combat domestic violence and which laws are not? Three assemblywomen are hoping to find out the answer and that's why they're co-sponsoring a bill to establish a panel of experts to study the issue.

Domestic Violence
Sami Sarkis, Getty Images
loading...

"It's unfortunate that domestic violence is still prevalent today and a quarter of women today still experience domestic violence attacks," said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood). "We're seeing younger women experience domestic violence as well."

According to Vainieri Huttle, Bergen County had five domestic violence deaths last year. She said that shows some laws may not be working.

"The purpose of this bill is to create a task force to look at what is preventing domestic violence and look to how we can prevent it even further and to look at what is not working," Huttle said. "We will certainly look at it legislatively to see which laws can be more effective or if we can create more effective laws."

According to the bill statement, the 16-member of panel would be made up of experts including, "commissioners of the departments of Children and Families, Human Services, and Corrections, the Attorney General, the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Public Defender, or their designees; four members of the legislature, no more than two of whom shall be from the same party; and six public members, two to be appointed by the Senate President, two to be appointed by the Assembly Speaker and two to be appointed by the Governor."

The task force would be given 18 months to study the issue and submit a comprehensive report to the legislature, complete with recommendations.

The measure was unanimously approved by the Assembly Women and Children Committee. It is co-sponsored by Assembly members Annette Quijano (D-Union) and Gabriela Mosquera (D-Turnersville).

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM