Bill Text: NJ A4741 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes minimum educational requirements for county and municipal law enforcement officers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-09-24 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A4741 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4741-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes minimum educational requirements for county and municipal law enforcement officers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the qualifications for initial appointment as a local law enforcement officer, amending N.J.S.40A:14-122 and supplementing chapter 14 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.40A:14-122 is amended to read as follows:
40A:14-122. General qualifications of members of police department and force; temporary appointments; absences from duty.
Except as otherwise provided by law, no person shall be appointed as a member of the police department and force, unless the person:
(1) is a citizen of the United States;
(2) is sound in body and of good health sufficient to satisfy the board of trustees of the police and firemen's retirement system of New Jersey as to his eligibility for membership in the retirement system;
(3) is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently;
(4) is of good moral character, and has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude; and
(5) has either:
(a) successfully earned, at a minimum, an associate degree; or
(b) has at least two years of law enforcement experience.
In addition to the requirements set forth under current law, a municipality operating under the provisions of Title 11A, the Civil Service Act, may establish minimum education requirements for a person to be eligible for appointment as a member of the police department and force.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a governing body from establishing minimum requirements which are more stringent than those set forth in this section.
The appointing body, officer or officers of the municipality when authorized so to do, may employ such officers and other personnel for said police department and force as temporary employees in emergencies, or for certain specified parts of the year, as needed.
Except as otherwise provided by law, any permanent member or officer of such police department and force who shall be absent from duty without just cause or leave of absence, for a continuous period of [5] five days, shall cease to be a member of such police department and force.
(cf: P.L.1971, c.443, s.4)
2. (New section) Except as otherwise herein provided, a person shall not be appointed as a member or officer of the police department and force in any county pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-106 unless the person:
(1) is a citizen of the United States; and
(2) is sound in body and of good health;
(3) is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently;
(4) is of good moral character, and has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude; and
(5) has either:
(a) successfully earned, at a minimum, an associate degree; or
(b) has at least two years of law enforcement experience.
In addition to the requirements set forth under current law, a county operating under the provisions of Title 11A, the Civil Service Act, may establish minimum education requirements for a person to be eligible for appointment as a member of the police department and force.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a governing body from establishing minimum requirements which are more stringent than those set forth in this section.
Nothing herein shall affect the employment or continuance in office of any person hired as a permanent member or officer of a county police department and force prior to the enactment of this section.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes minimum educational requirements for a person seeking appointment as a police officer of a local department and force.
Pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-122, a municipal police department applicant is required to: be a citizen of the United States; sound in body and of good health; be able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently; be of good moral character, and not have been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
Under the bill, county and municipal police officers also would be required to have either, at a minimum, an associate degree or at least two years of law enforcement experience. The bill also, in addition to the requirements set forth under current law, authorizes a municipality operating under the provisions of the Civil Service Act to establish minimum education requirements for a person to be eligible for appointment as a member of the police department and force.
The bill also permits counties and municipalities to adopt more stringent educational standards for initial appointment to the police department.
