Bill Text: NJ S3004 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Allows law enforcement agencies to utilize electronic signatures on police reports; requires Attorney General to adopt uniform guidelines.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-09-30 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S3004 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S3004-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JIM WHELAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
SYNOPSIS
Allows law enforcement agencies to utilize electronic signatures on police reports; requires Attorney General to adopt uniform guidelines.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning police reports and supplementing chapter 17B of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. For the purpose of this section:
"Electronic signature" means an electronic symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a police report that shall serve as the legal equivalent to a physical signature which is executed or adopted by a police officer with the intent to sign a police report; and
"Electronic police report" means police investigation reports and operational reports created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means.
b. Every law enforcement agency may adopt and implement a policy which allows law enforcement officers to provide an electronic signature on police reports, and which provides for the utilization and archival of electronic police reports.
c. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Division of State Police and the Office of Information Technology, shall issue uniform guidelines to be followed by all law enforcement agencies in the State that utilize electronic signatures and electronic police reports. The guidelines shall include, but not be limited to, the establishment of control processes and procedures appropriate to ensure adequate preservation, disposition, integrity, security, and confidentiality of electronic signatures and electronic police reports.
d. The Attorney General may request that law enforcement agencies submit periodic reports providing data on the use of electronic signatures and electronic police reports.
2. This act shall take effect immediately, but the Attorney General may take advance anticipatory administrative action as necessary to implement this act.
STATEMENT
This bill allows each law enforcement agency in the State to adopt and implement a policy that allows law enforcement officers to provide an electronic signature on police reports, and which provides for the utilization and archival of electronic police reports. In addition, the bill requires that the Attorney General, in consultation with the Division of State Police and the Office of Information Technology, issue uniform guidelines to be followed by all law enforcement agencies in the State that utilize electronic signatures and electronic police reports. The guidelines are to include the establishment of control processes and procedures appropriate to ensure adequate preservation, disposition, integrity, security, and confidentiality of electronic signatures and electronic police reports. The bill permits the Attorney General to request that law enforcement agencies submit periodic reports providing data on the use of electronic signatures and electronic police reports.
