Bill Text: NJ S4151 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Authorizes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in places of religious worship; makes certain clarifications concerning their use in nonpublic schools.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-24 - Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading [S4151 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S4151-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in places of religious worship; makes certain clarifications concerning their use in nonpublic schools.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on June 24, 2026, with amendments.
An Act concerning Class Three special law enforcement officers and amending P.L.1985, c.439.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 4 of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.11) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. A person shall not commence the duties of a special law enforcement officer unless the person has successfully completed a training course approved by the commission and a special law enforcement officer shall not be issued a firearm unless the officer has successfully completed the basic firearms course approved by the commission for permanent, regularly appointed police and annual requalification examinations as required by subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.14). There shall be three classifications for special police officers. The commission shall prescribe by rule or regulation the training standards to be established for each classification. Training may be in a commission approved academy or in any other training program which the commission may determine appropriate. The classifications shall be based upon the duties to be performed by the special law enforcement officer as follows:
(1) Class One. Officers of this class shall be authorized to perform routine traffic detail, spectator control, and similar duties. If authorized by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, Class One officers shall have the power to issue summonses for disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses, violations of municipal ordinances, and violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes. The use of a firearm by an officer of this class shall be strictly prohibited and a Class One officer shall not be assigned any duties which may require the carrying or use of a firearm.
(2) Class Two. Officers of this class shall be authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer. The use of a firearm by an officer of this class may be authorized only after the officer has been fully certified as successfully completing training as prescribed by the commission.
(3) Class Three. (a) Officers of this class shall be authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer while providing security at a public or nonpublic school or a county college on the school or college premises during hours when the public or nonpublic school or county college is normally in session or when it is occupied by public or nonpublic school or county college students or their teachers or professors. While on duty in the jurisdiction of employment, an officer may respond to offenses or emergencies off school or college grounds if they occur in the officer's presence while traveling to a school facility or county college, but an officer shall not otherwise be dispatched or dedicated to any assignment off school or college property.
A school district which procures the services of Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security at public schools in the district also shall procure these services for nonpublic schools in the district. 1A nonpublic school may enter into a memorandum of understanding with a municipality or local unit outside the municipality where the nonpublic school is located for security services.1 The school district shall be responsible for compensating the local unit for the security services rendered by a Class Three officer in public and nonpublic schools.
(b) Officers of this class shall be authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer while providing security at a church, mosque, synagogue, temple, or any other building used by a congregation as a place of religious worship.
The use of a firearm by an officer of this class shall be authorized pursuant to the provisions of subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.14). An officer of this class shall not be authorized to carry a firearm while off duty unless the officer complies with the requirements set forth in subsection l. of N.J.S.2C:39-6 authorizing a retired law enforcement officer to carry a handgun.
b. The commission may, in its discretion, except from the requirements of this section any person who demonstrates to the commission's satisfaction that the person has successfully completed a police training course conducted by any federal, state or other public or private agency, the requirements of which are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this act.
c. The commission shall certify officers who have satisfactorily completed training programs and issue appropriate certificates to those officers. The certificate shall clearly state the category of certification for which the officer has been certified by the commission.
d. All special law enforcement officers appointed and in service on the effective date of this act may continue in service if within 24 months of the effective date of this act they will have completed all training and certification requirements of this act.
(cf: P.L.2016, c.68, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
