Bill Text: NJ S2710 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates Law Enforcement Review Task Force for civil service examinations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-22 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S2710 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2710-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Creates Law Enforcement Examination Review Task Force for civil service examinations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act creating a Law Enforcement Examination Review Task Force for civil service examinations, and supplementing chapter 4 of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. New Jersey is one of the most diverse states, with residents from many racial and ethnic groups and many religious backgrounds.
b. Many of the police departments in New Jersey are not reflective of the communities that they serve.
c. Questions have been raised about the lack of diversity in many police departments throughout the State, and whether the civil service examinations are biased towards certain groups.
d. A police department that is reflective of the community it serves helps the members of the community feel that they have representation and that they matter.
e. Trust between a police department and the community it serves is necessary to help the community thrive.
f. It is in the interest of this State and the people of New Jersey for their police departments to be reflective of their communities.
g. Therefore, it is in the interest of this State and the people of New Jersey to establish a Law Enforcement Examination Review Task Force to review all civil service examinations relating to law enforcement for racial bias, insensitivity, and discrimination.
2. a. There is established in the Civil Service Commission the Law Enforcement Examination Review Task Force. The purpose of the task force shall be to review all civil service examinations relating to law enforcement, including, but not limited to, initial employment and promotions, for racial bias, insensitivity, and discrimination. If racial bias, insensitivity, or discrimination is determined to exist, the task force shall revise the examination prior to the next administration, when possible, to remove the bias, insensitivity, and discrimination.
b. The task force shall consist of 13 members as follows:
(1) The Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety, who shall serve ex-officio, or their respective designees; and
(2) The following public members shall be appointed by the Governor:
(a) a representative of the New Jersey State Law Enforcement Officers Association;
(b) a representative of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives;
(c) a representative of the National Latino Peace Officers Association;
(d) a representative of the New Jersey Asian American Law Enforcement Officers Association;
(e) a representative of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives;
(f) a representative of the LGBTQ community in law enforcement;
(g) a New Jersey resident no more than 25 years of age who is concerned with the issues of civil rights, or social, economic and racial equality;
(h) a New Jersey resident no more than 35 years of age who is concerned with the issues of civil rights, or social, economic and racial equality; and
(i) a New Jersey resident who is concerned with the issues of civil rights, or social, economic and racial equality.
Of the public members first appointed, four shall serve for a term of four years, three shall serve for a term of three years, and two shall serve for a term of two years.
c. Appointments to the task force shall be made no later than 90 days after the effective date of this act. Each public member shall serve for a term of four years or until a successor is appointed, and vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. A vacancy in the membership occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.
d. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of a majority of its public members and shall select a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members, as well as a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. A meeting of the task force shall be called at the request of seven of the task force's members, and seven members of the task force shall constitute a quorum at any meeting thereof. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the place or places the task force designates.
The Civil Service Commission shall provide staff support to the task force. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as the task force may require and as may be available to the task force for its purposes.
e. No later than one year after its organization, and annually thereafter, the task force shall prepare and submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report detailing the task force's work during the previous year, including the number of examinations reviewed, the number of examinations that required changes, and the types of changes made to the examinations.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
New Jersey is one of the most diverse states. However, many of the police departments in New Jersey are not reflective of the communities that they serve. Questions have been raised about the lack of diversity in many police departments throughout the State, and whether the civil service examinations are biased towards certain groups. A police department that is reflective of the community it serves helps the members of the community feel that they have representation and that they matter. It also helps the community thrive. Therefore, it is in the interest of this State and the people of New Jersey to establish a Law Enforcement Examination Review Task Force to review all civil service examinations relating to law enforcement.
This bill establishes in the Civil Service Commission, the Law Enforcement Examination Review Task Force. The purpose of the task force will be to review all civil service examinations relating to law enforcement, including, but not limited to, initial employment and promotions, for racial bias, insensitivity, and discrimination. If racial bias, insensitivity, or discrimination is determined to exist, the task force will revise the examination, and remove the bias, insensitivity, and discrimination.
The task force will consist of 13 members, including representatives from the following organizations: the New Jersey State Law Enforcement Officers Association; the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; the National Latino Peace Officers Association; the New Jersey Asian American Law Enforcement Officers Association; the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives; and the LGBTQ community in law enforcement.
No later than one year after its organization, and annually thereafter, the task force will submit a report detailing the task force's work during the previous year, including the number of examinations reviewed, the number of examinations that required changes, and the types of changes made to any examinations.
