Bill Text: NJ A3804 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Designates 9-1-1 operators or dispatchers as 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-7)
Status: (Passed) 2022-01-18 - Approved P.L.2021, c.447. [A3804 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A3804-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN ARMATO
District 2 (Atlantic)
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Timberlake, McKnight, DiMaso, Swain, Vainieri Huttle, Assemblymen Houghtaling, Space, Wirths, Assemblywomen Downey, Tucker and Lopez
SYNOPSIS
Designates 9-1-1 operators or dispatchers as 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on November 15, 2021, with amendments.
An Act concerning emergency response services, supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes, and amending various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. (New section) This act shall be known and may be cited as the "9-1-1 First Responder Dispatcher Act."
2. (New section) The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. There are over 6,000 public safety call centers, known as public safety answering points, in the United States.
b. Public safety communications professionals dedicate their lives to helping others by performing work that goes far beyond merely relaying information between the public and first responders.
c. In times of crises, the information collected and actions taken by public safety communications professionals form the foundation for an effective response by law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and emergency medical service professionals.
d. Public safety communications professionals are an important part of the first responder community that provides immediate assistance to crime and disaster victims.
e. Accordingly, it is altogether fitting and proper to recognize the role of public safety communications professionals, including 9-1-1 dispatchers or operators, as emergency response personnel by designating them as 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers.
3. (New section) Persons appointed as public safety communications professionals, also referred to as 9-1-1 dispatchers or operators, shall hereinafter be referred to as 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers.
1[4. Section 1 of P.L.1979, c.264 (C.2C:33-15) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. 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 guilty of a disorderly persons offense, and shall be fined not less than $500.
b. Whenever this offense is committed in a motor vehicle, the court shall, in addition to the sentence authorized for the offense, suspend or postpone for six months the driving privilege of the defendant. Upon the conviction of any person under this section, the court shall forward a report to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission stating the first and last day of the suspension or postponement period imposed by the court pursuant to this section. If a person at the time of the imposition of a sentence is less than 17 years of age, the period of license postponement, including a suspension or postponement of the privilege of operating a motorized bicycle, shall commence on the day the sentence is imposed and shall run for a period of six months after the person reaches the age of 17 years.
If a person at the time of the imposition of a sentence has a valid driver's license issued by this State, the court shall immediately collect the license and forward it to the commission along with the report. If for any reason the license cannot be collected, the court shall include in the report the complete name, address, date of birth, eye color, and sex of the person as well as the first and last date of the license suspension period imposed by the court.
The court shall inform the person orally and in writing that if the person is convicted of operating a motor vehicle during the period of license suspension or postponement, the person shall be subject to the penalties set forth in R.S.39:3-40. A person shall be required to acknowledge receipt of the written notice in writing. Failure to receive a written notice or failure to acknowledge in writing the receipt of a written notice shall not be a defense to a subsequent charge of a violation of R.S.39:3-40.
If the person convicted under this section is not a New Jersey resident, the court shall suspend or postpone, as appropriate, the non-resident driving privilege of the person based on the age of the person and submit to the commission the required report. The court shall not collect the license of a non-resident convicted under this section. Upon receipt of a report by the court, the commission shall notify the appropriate officials in the licensing jurisdiction of the suspension or postponement.
c. In addition to the general penalty prescribed for a disorderly persons offense, the court may require any person who violates this act to participate in an alcohol education or treatment program, authorized by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, for a period not to exceed the maximum period of confinement prescribed by law for the offense for which the individual has been convicted.
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.
e. 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;
(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 [operator] 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.
(cf: P.L.2015, c.137, s.3)]1
14. 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.
(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.
(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, 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 [operator] 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.1
(cf: P.L.2021, c.38. s.1)
5. Section 3 of P.L.2017, c.116 (C.26:2K-68) is amended to read as follows:
3. a. The commissioner shall establish a system to allow for the electronic reporting of emergency medical services dispatch and response information as required pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2017, c.116 (C.26:2K-67). Information shall be reported to the system in a format and at such intervals as required by the commissioner, except that, to the extent possible, the system shall interact with existing systems used by emergency medical services providers and emergency medical services dispatch centers, including, but not limited to, emsCharts and Image Trend, to facilitate automated, real-time reporting of the information. The department shall furnish to EMS providers and 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers, without charge, any software or programs developed by the department for accessing and using the electronic reporting system.
b. The electronic reporting system established pursuant to this section shall, at a minimum, seek to record and track data concerning types of medical emergencies for which emergency medical services are requested, response times for emergency medical services providers, patterns in the timing and location of requests for emergency medical services, patterns in the type or nature of emergency medical services provided, and patterns in dispatch and response activity.
c. The commissioner shall, in consultation with the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), establishing quality performance metrics and pre-hospital protocols for emergency medical services providers, which shall be based on the data tracked and recorded pursuant to subsection b. of this section. The commissioner shall review and update the rules and regulations concerning quality performance metrics and pre-hospital protocols as appropriate.
d. The commissioner shall make the response times for emergency medical services providers that are tracked and recorded pursuant to subsection b. of this section available to the public on the department's Internet website.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.116, s.3)
1[6. Section 2 of P.L.2009, c.133 (C.40:48-1.2a) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. An underage person and one or two other persons shall be immune from prosecution under an ordinance authorized by section 1 of P.L.2000, c.33 (C.40:48-1.2) prohibiting any person under the legal age who, without legal authority, knowingly possesses or knowingly consumes an alcoholic beverage on private property 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;
(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 [operator] first responder dispatchers;
(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.
b. The underage person who received medical assistance as provided in subsection a. of this section also shall be immune from prosecution under an ordinance authorized by section 1 of P.L.2000, c.33 (C.40:48-1.2).
(cf: P.L.2009, c.133, s.2)]1
1[7.] 6.1 Section 3 of P.L.1989, c.3 (C.52:17C-3) is amended to read as follows:
3. a. There is established in the Office of Information Technology an Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services.
b. The office shall be under the immediate supervision of a director, who shall be a person qualified by training and experience to direct the work of the office. The director shall administer the provisions of this act subject to review by the Chief Technology Officer and shall perform other duties as may be provided by law. The director shall be appointed by the Chief Technology Officer, but the commission shall advise the Chief Technology Officer on the qualifications of the director. The Chief Technology Officer is authorized to appoint, in accordance with Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes, clerical, technical, and professional assistants, and also may designate any available personnel as shall be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
The office shall designate a staff member from within the Office of Information Technology to be designated as a professional spectrum manager. The professional spectrum manager shall be responsible for approving all applications for public safety spectrum allocations in the State to ensure that the State fully complies with Federal Communications Commission rules that impact frequency allocation for public safety use. The spectrum manager may be chosen from among the current employees of the office and the chosen employee may continue the duties and responsibilities of their current position in addition to the duties and responsibilities of spectrum manager as provided in this section.
The office shall designate a staff member from within the Office of Information Technology to be designated the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator to coordinate interoperable communications grants and projects consistent with the National Communications Plan. The coordinator may be chosen from among the current employees of the office and the chosen employee may continue the duties and responsibilities of his current position in addition to the duties and responsibilities of coordinator as provided in this section.
The office shall, subject to review by the commission and the Chief Technology Officer, and in consultation with the council, the telephone companies, the Board of Public Utilities and the wireless telephone companies, and with the assistance of the Office of Information Technology in but not of the Department of the Treasury, continue to plan, design, implement, and coordinate the Statewide emergency enhanced 9-1-1 telephone system to be established pursuant to this act as well as any changes to that system needed to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 service.
To this end the office shall establish, after review and approval by the commission, in consultation with the council, a State plan for the emergency enhanced 9-1-1 system in this State, which plan shall include:
(1) The configuration of, and requirements for, the enhanced 9-1-1 network. The office with the approval of the commission and the Chief Technology Officer, in consultation with the council, only as provided herein, and assistance and advice of the Office of Information Technology in but not of the Department of the Treasury is empowered to enter into contracts for the provision of this network.
(2) The role and responsibilities of the counties and municipalities of the State in the implementation of the system, consistent with the provisions of this act, including a timetable for implementation.
(3) Technical and operational standards for the establishment of public safety answering points (PSAPs) which utilize enhanced 9-1-1 network features in accordance with the provisions of this act and in alignment with the Next Generation 9-1-1 Planning by the National 9-1-1 Office within the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those entities having responsibility for the creation and management of PSAPs shall conform to these standards in the design, implementation and operation of the PSAPs. These standards shall include provision for the training and certification of call-takers and [public safety] 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers or for the adoption of such a program.
The office, after review and approval by the commission and the Chief Technology Officer, in consultation with the council, only as provided herein, may update and revise the State plan from time to time.
The office may inspect each PSAP to determine if it meets the requirements of this act and the technical and operational standards established pursuant to this section. The office shall explore ways to maximize the reliability of the system.
The plan or any portion of it may be implemented by the adoption of regulations pursuant to subsection b. of section 15 of this act.
The State plan shall require the consolidation of PSAPs as appropriate, consistent with revisions in the plan to upgrade the enhanced 9-1-1 system and shall condition the allocation of moneys dedicated for the operation of PSAPs on the merging and sharing of PSAP functions by municipalities, counties and the State Police, consistent with the revised plan. The Treasurer may establish, by regulation, a 9-1-1 call volume minimum that may be utilized as a factor in determining which PSAP functions are to be consolidated under the State plan.
The State plan shall limit the use of sworn law enforcement officers to provide dispatch services and the office shall condition the receipt of moneys dedicated for the operation of PSAPs on the limited use of sworn law enforcement officers, except for officers returning to active duty from an injury or other physical disability.
The office shall plan, implement and coordinate a Statewide public education program designed to generate public awareness at all levels of the emergency enhanced 9-1-1 system. Advertising and display of 9-1-1 shall be in accordance with standards established by the office. Advertising expenses may be defrayed from the moneys appropriated to the office.
c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1999, c.125).
d. To this end, the office shall, subject to review and approval by the commission and the Chief Technology Officer, and in consultation with the council, develop a Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan, which shall include:
(1) the strategy to most effectively provide interoperability and coordinate public safety communications between and among State, county and municipal public safety agencies. The office shall submit recommendations and proposals, as appropriate, to the Regional Planning Committees to which the State is assigned by the Federal Communications Commission; and
(2) the role and responsibilities of the counties and municipalities of the State in the implementation of the New Jersey Interoperable Communications System, consistent with the National Communications Plan and the provisions of this act, including a timetable for implementation.
e. The office, after review and approval by the commission and the Chief Technology Officer, in consultation with the council, only as provided herein, may update and revise the State plan as needed. The plan or any portion of it may be implemented by the adoption of regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
f. The office, after review and approval by the commission and the Chief Technology Officer, only as provided herein, shall submit a report to the Senate Revenue, Finance and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee, or their successors, not later than February 15 of each year, concerning its progress in carrying out the provisions of this act and the expenditure of moneys appropriated thereto and appropriated for the purposes of installation of the Statewide enhanced 9-1-1 network and the New Jersey Interoperable Communications System.
(cf: P.L.2011, c.4, s.2)
1[8.] 7.1 This act shall take effect immediately.
