Establishes a 500 foot drug free zone around child care centers.

This bill (A3140) expands New Jersey's drug-free zone law to include licensed child care centers. It establishes a 500-foot buffer zone around these centers where distributing, dispensing, or possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute becomes a third-degree crime, punishable by mandatory minimum prison time (1-3 years, depending on the substance). The law directly affects individuals who commit drug offenses within this 500-foot zone around licensed child care centers, which include daycares, preschools, and specialized programs (as defined in the bill). This change addresses a gap identified in *State v. Shelle*, where courts previously excluded child care centers from existing school zone protections.