Revises definition of child abuse or neglect to include persons between 18 and 21 years of age in certain settings.

This bill amends New Jersey's child abuse and neglect laws to include individuals aged 18-21 in certain settings under the definition of "child" for protection purposes. Specifically, it revises the definition of "child" to mean any person under 21 years old who is alleged to have been abused, neglected, or exploited by a teacher, employee, contractor, or volunteer of an institution regulated by the Department of Children and Families. The bill extends protections to individuals in institutions (including day schools) who are between 18 and 21 years old, currently falling under separate jurisdiction for individuals with developmental disabilities. This change transfers full investigative responsibility for these cases from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Children and Families for the population served in regulated facilities.