Bill Text: NJ A4889 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes sexual violence liaison officer in Division of State Police and local police departments.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-01 - Substituted by S3075 (1R) [A4889 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4889-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4889

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 26, 2020

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman  ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Assemblywoman  SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Timberlake, Assemblymen Zwicker, Johnson and Chiaravalloti

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes sexual violence liaison officer in Division of State Police and local police departments. 

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Women and Children Committee on February 23, 2021, with amendments.

  

An Act establishing sexual violence liaison officers in certain police departments and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes and Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes. 

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

      1.  a.  The Superintendent of State Police shall designate the Station Intervention Officer as the sexual violence liaison officer for each State Police station.

      b.   The sexual violence liaison officer shall:

      (1) serve as the station's in-house expert on how to respond to sexual violence cases;

      (2) act as the primary point-of-contact for each local sexual violence program and county Sexual Assault Response Team ¹[as]¹ established pursuant section 6 of P.L.2001, c.81 (C.52:4B-54) to coordinate an effective community response;

      (3) when appropriately trained, provide in-house training on sexual violence and support training implementation by the Victim Services  Unit;

      (4) monitor the station's compliance with sexual violence best practices as set forth in the statutory law and Attorney General policies; and

      (5) serve in any other capacity deemed appropriate by the superintendent.

      c.   A sexual violence liaison officer shall complete specialized sexual violence training as specified by the superintendent.

      d.   A regional investigator of the Victim Services Unit of the Division of State Police shall:

      (1) be a member of the Victim Services Unit, or its successor;

      (2) complete specialized sexual violence training as specified by the superintendent; and

      (3) represent the station at county meetings of the Sexual Assault Response Team.

      e.   A member of the Division of State Police shall be disqualified from serving as a sexual violence liaison officer or regional investigator of the Victim Services Unit if:

      (1) the member ¹[has been] is¹ the subject of an investigation ¹for a complaint charging a violation of the internal rules and regulations established for the conduct of the division regarding sexual violence, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment or there are pending criminal charges against the member for any of these offenses¹; or

      (2) a court has issued a protective or restraining order against the member.

      f.    Nothing in this section shall prohibit the sexual ¹[assault] violence¹ liaison officer from simultaneously serving as a domestic violence liaison officer or Megan's Law resource officer.

 

      2.  a.  The chief of police or other executive head of a municipal police department and force established pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.40A:14-118 shall appoint a full-time sworn officer of the department and force to serve as a sexual violence liaison officer.

      b.   The sexual violence liaison officer shall:

      (1) serve as the department and force in-house expert on how to respond to sexual violence cases;

      (2) act as the primary point-of-contact for each local sexual violence program and county Sexual Assault Response Team ¹[as]¹ established pursuant section 6 of P.L.2001, c.81 (C.52:4B-54) to coordinate an effective community response;

      (3) represent the department and force at county meetings of the Sexual Assault Response Team;

      (4) when appropriately trained, provide in-house training on sexual violence;

      (5) monitor the department and force's compliance with sexual violence best practices as set forth in the statutory law and Attorney General policies; and

      (6) serve in any other capacity deemed appropriate by the chief of  police or other executive head of the department or force.

      c.   A sexual violence liaison officer shall complete specialized sexual violence training as specified by the chief of police or other executive head of the municipal police department and force.

      d.   An officer of the department or force shall be disqualified from serving as a sexual violence liaison officer if:

      (1) the officer ¹[has been] is¹ the subject of an investigation ¹for a complaint charging a violation of the internal rules and regulations  established for the conduct of the department and force¹ regarding sexual violence, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment ¹or there are pending criminal charges against the officer for any of these offenses¹; or

      (2) a court has issued a protective or restraining order against the officer.

      e.   Nothing in this section shall prohibit the sexual ¹[assault] violence¹ liaison officer from simultaneously serving as a domestic violence liaison officer or a Megan's Law resource officer.

      ¹f.  Nothing in this section shall preclude a municipal department and force from:

      (1) appointing more than one sexual violence liaison officer; or

      (2) appointing the sexual violence liaison officer of another municipal or county department and force as the liaison officer for the department and force provided the liaison officer can adequately perform the duties required of the officer pursuant to subsection b. of this section.¹

 

      3.  a.  The chief of police or other executive head of a county police department and force established pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.40A:14-106 through N.J.S.40A:14-117 shall appoint a full-time sworn officer of the department and force to serve as the sexual violence liaison officer.

      b.  The sexual violence liaison officer shall:

      (1) serve as the department and force in-house expert on how to conduct sexual violence cases;

      (2) act as the primary point-of-contact for each local sexual violence program and county Sexual Assault Response Team as established pursuant section 6 of P.L.2001, c.81 (C.52:4B-54) to coordinate an effective community response;

      (3) represent the department and force at county meetings of the Sexual Assault Response Team;

      (4) when appropriately trained, provide in-house training on sexual violence;

      (5) monitor the department and force's compliance with sexual  violence best practices as set forth in the statutory law and Attorney General policies; and

      (6) serve in any other capacity deemed appropriate by the chief of police or other executive head of the department or force.

      c.   A sexual violence liaison officer shall complete specialized sexual violence training as specified by the chief of police or other executive head of the county police department and force.

      d.   An officer of the department or force shall be disqualified from serving as a sexual violence liaison officer if:

      (1) the officer ¹[has been] is¹ the subject of an investigation ¹for a complaint charging a violation of the internal rules and regulations established for the conduct of the department and force¹ regarding sexual violence, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment ¹or there are pending criminal charges against the officer for any of these offenses¹; or

      (2) a court has issued a protective or restraining order against the officer.

      e.   Nothing in this section shall prohibit the sexual ¹[assault] violence¹ liaison officer from simultaneously serving as a domestic violence liaison officer or a Megan's Law resource officer.

      ¹f.  Nothing in this section shall preclude a county department and force from:

      (1) appointing more than one sexual violence liaison officer; or

      (2) appointing the sexual violence liaison officer of another municipal or county department and force as the liaison officer for the department and force provided the liaison officer can adequately perform the duties of the office pursuant to subsection b. of this section.¹

 

     4.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment.