Sponsored by:
Senator FRED H. MADDEN, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator DECLAN J. O'SCANLON, JR.
District 13 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Oroho
SYNOPSIS
Permits county police department and force to provide police services to municipalities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act permitting a county police department and force to provide police services to a municipality, amending N.J.S.40A:14-107 and supplementing chapter 14 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.40A:14-107 is amended to read as follows:
40A:14-107. a. The members and officers of a county police department and force, in addition to any and all other powers prescribed by law, shall have the power to enforce:
(1) All rules and regulations made and promulgated by the governing body of the county governing the use of by the public, and the welfare of the public on, county highways and roads;
[(2) All provisions of chapter 171 (Sunday observances) of Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes;] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
(3) All provisions of Title 39 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation) of the Revised Statutes;
(4) All provisions of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; and
(5) All rules and regulations made and promulgated by the governing body of the county respecting the general health, safety and welfare of the public within the territorial limits of the county.
The said members and officers have authority to arrest for the commission of any crime anywhere in the county of their appointment; they shall also have full authority to arrest for any crimes committed in their presence which are committed anywhere within the territorial limits of the State of New Jersey.
b. In addition to the specific powers enumerated in subsection a. of this section, a county police department and force shall have the authority to enter into a shared service agreement pursuant to the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," sections 1 through 35 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-1 through C.40A:65-35), with any municipality located in the county to provide any, or all, police services to the municipality that a municipal police department and force is authorized to perform itself.
(cf: P.L.1981, c.126, s.5)
2. (New section) The
Attorney General shall provide guidance and direction to counties and
municipalities entering into shared service agreements for police services
authorized in subsection b. of N.J.S.40A:14-107, to resolve matters of police
administration not otherwise provided by law or rule as it affects these
contracts.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize a county police department and force to enter into a shared service agreement pursuant to the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," sections 1 through 35 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-1 through C.40A:65-35), with any municipality located in the county to provide any, or all, police services to the municipality that a municipal police department and force is authorized to perform itself, as recommended by the New Jersey Economic & Fiscal Policy Workgroup in its report “Path to Progress.” Authorizing counties to perform police services on behalf of municipalities would lower, or eliminate, municipal costs relating to policing and provide property tax relief to municipal residents.
The bill also makes a technical correction to N.J.S.40A:14-107 by removing current language in the statute authorizing a county police department and force to enforce all provisions of chapter 171 of Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes. The statutes in that chapter, designated “Observance of Sabbath Days,” were repealed at different times between 1970 and 1999.