Bill Text: NJ S3179 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concerns certain emergency operations plans required to be submitted to law enforcement agencies.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-06-28 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee [S3179 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S3179-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns certain emergency operations plans required to be submitted to law enforcement agencies.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain emergency operations plans and amending P.L.2010, c.78.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2010, c.78 (C.52:27D-224.3) is amended to read as follows:
1. All sports and entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and places of worship in the State shall annually prepare and maintain an emergency operations plan in coordination with the appropriate local fire, law enforcement, and emergency response agencies. A copy of the plan shall be filed in an electronic format that is compatible with public safety software systems each year with the municipal emergency management coordinator and chief law enforcement officer who serves the municipality in which the sports and entertainment facility, movie theater, or place of worship is situated.
The emergency operations plan shall include emergency mapping data. The emergency mapping data shall include, but not be limited to, an aerial image of the building; a geospatially referenced floor plan or building schematic; site specific labeling of rooms, suite numbers, and key features; [a copy of the building plans or building layout that identifies the] internal and external access routes [of the sports and entertainment facility, movie theater, or place of worship] ; locations of hazardous materials and utility shut-offs; and any other relevant information. The chief law enforcement officer shall utilize the emergency operations plans submitted pursuant to this section to prepare and train for mass casualty and active shooter incidents at sports and entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and places of worship.
An emergency operations plan shall not be considered a public record pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) or P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.).
As used in this section:
"Emergency mapping data" means a digital representation of a building's interior and exterior that is verified for accuracy by a person and provided to public safety officials as set forth in this section electronically and in a printable format through existing public safety software systems.
"Movie theater" means a premises capable of seating more than 1,000 people at which the display of motion pictures to the general public in exchange for a fee is the primary and principal business.
"Place of worship" means a building capable of seating more than [500] 300 people, including but not limited to a church, mosque, or synagogue, used primarily as a place of public or private worship on a permanent basis by a recognized and established religious sect or denomination registered as a not-for-profit organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s.501 (c) (3).
"Sports and entertainment facility" means any privately or publicly owned or operated facility capable of seating more than 5,000 people and is used primarily for sports contests, entertainment, or both, such as a theater, stadium, museum, arena, automobile racetrack, or other place where performances, concerts, exhibits, games or contests are held.
(cf: P.L.2022, c.121, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill concerns certain emergency operations plans that are required to be submitted to law enforcement agencies.
Under current law, all sports and entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and places of worship are required to annually prepare an emergency operations plan in coordination with the appropriate local fire, law enforcement, and emergency response agencies. A copy of the plan is to be filed with the municipal emergency management coordinator and the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the sports and entertainment facility, movie theater, or place of worship is situated. The plan is required to include a copy of the building plans or building layout that identifies the internal and external access routes.
Under the provisions of this bill, all sports and entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and places of worship are required to file the emergency operations plan in an electronic format that is compatible with public safety software systems. In addition, the bill requires the emergency operations plan to include emergency mapping data. The bill defines "emergency mapping data" as a digital representation of a building's interior and exterior that is verified for accuracy by a person and provided to public safety officials as set forth under current law electronically and in a printable format through existing public safety software systems.
The bill requires the emergency mapping data to include an aerial image of the building; a geospatially referenced floor plan or building schematic; site specific labeling of rooms, suite numbers, and key features; locations of hazardous material and utility shut-offs; and any other relevant information.
Current law defines "place of worship" to mean a building capable of seating more than 500 people, including but not limited to a church, mosque, or synagogue, used primarily as a place of public or private worship on a permanent basis by a recognized and established religious sect or denomination registered as a not-for-profit organization pursuant to current law. This bill changes that definition from a building capable of seating more than 500 people to a building capable of seating more than 300 people.
It is the intent of the sponsor to bring the provisions of this law in line with the provisions of current law requiring schools to submit certain data regarding school buildings and grounds to law enforcement.
