SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 744

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 25, 2020

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 744 (1R), with committee amendments.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 744 (1R) requires law enforcement agencies to request the personnel and internal affairs files of applicants from each law enforcement agency for which the applicant previously served as a law enforcement officer.  The law enforcement agency receiving the request is required to submit the files to the requesting agency.   

      The amended bill defines a law enforcement agency as a State, interstate, municipal, or county law enforcement agency; a law enforcement agency of an educational institution that appoints law enforcement officers; or any other department, division, bureau, commission, board, or other authority of this State or political subdivision of any of these entities. 

      The amended bill provides that confidential internal affairs files received by the requesting law enforcement agency are to remain confidential and not be disclosed to any other party.  The amended bill further clarifies that contracts entered into after the bill is enacted that would prohibit a law enforcement agency from providing an officer’s files to another law enforcement agency are deemed against public policy and unenforceable.

      Finally, the amended bill requires the Attorney General to issue or amend guidelines or directives governing the implementation of the bill’s provisions.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 1482, also amended and reported by the committee on this same date. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      1)   give the Attorney General the option to amend existing guidelines in addition to promulgating new ones; and

      2)   change the effective date from the first day of the fourth month after enactment to immediately.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.