Bill Text: NJ A5037 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits county sheriffs to appoint special law enforcement officers.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-05-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee [A5037 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5037-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID BAILEY, JR.
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Permits county sheriffs to appoint special law enforcement officers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning special law enforcement officers and supplementing Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. For the purposes of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.8 et seq.), a county sheriff shall be entitled to act as a local unit and appoint any classification of special law enforcement officers for the purposes set forth in P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.8 et seq.).
b. For purposes of this section, a "local unit" means the same as that term is defined by section 2 of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.9).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill permits the appointment of Class One, Two, and Three special law enforcement officers (SLEOs) by county sheriffs.
Under current law, a local unit, which is defined as any municipality or county having established a regular police force, may appoint SLEOs to perform certain duties.
Additionally, under current law, a Class One SLEO handles routine traffic duties and may issue summonses for disorderly persons offenses, municipal ordinances, and traffic violations if authorized by local ordinance, but is prohibited from carrying firearms. A Class Two SLEO is authorized to exercise full police powers, including arrest authority, and is authorized to carry firearms on duty provided they have completed the required training and annual qualifications. Class Three SLEOs are retired law enforcement officers dedicated specifically to school security, maintaining full police powers and firearm authorization while on school premises during active hours.
This bill permits the appointment of Class One, Two, and Three SLEOs by county sheriffs to perform the duties that are authorized for each classification and in accordance with certain requirements under current law.
