ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 4517

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  FEBRUARY 24, 2021

 

      The Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4517.

      As amended, this bill requires the Civil Service Commission to establish and maintain a mentoring program for minority civil service law enforcement applicants. 

      The purpose of the mentoring program would be to assist minority law enforcement applicants through the civil service application and selection process, and to help address obstacles unique to their circumstances.  The program may be conducted through mentoring projects, including workshops, group discussions, and dissemination of information about civil service practices which provide assistance in overcoming barriers to employment.

      The commission would develop criteria to determine eligibility in the program as a mentor and as a mentee.  A mentor may be a current or former law enforcement officer in good standing who obtained his or her law enforcement position through the civil service process, or any other person deemed appropriate by the Civil Service Commission. 

      A mentor or mentee may be removed from the mentoring program for good cause as determined by the commission.  A mentee would be removed from the program upon the mentee’s acceptance of an offer of employment.  An applicant may participate in the program as a mentee a maximum of three times within a 10 year period.  A former mentee may be eligible to participate in the program as a mentor. 

      No monies would be provided to a mentor to participate in the program, and no fees would be charged to a mentee to participate in the program. 

      At least once a year, the commission would review the program for its efficacy, and make any necessary adjustments to continue to meet the needs and purpose of the program.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 2766 (1R), which the committee also reported on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments make technical corrections.