SENATE, No. 1163

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 3, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires law enforcement officers to wear body cameras.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning law enforcement officers 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.    a.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, every State, county, and municipal law enforcement officer shall wear a camera that electronically records audio and video while acting in the performance of his official duties.

     b.    The cameras required by subsection a. of this section shall be funded by forfeiture funds collected pursuant to N.J.S.2C:64-6, in an amount to be determined by the Attorney General.

 

     2.    The Attorney General is authorized to promulgate guidelines or directives, as appropriate, to implement and enforce the provisions of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

 

     3.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month following enactment, but the Attorney General may take such administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires law enforcement officers to wear body cameras.  Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, every State, county, and municipal law enforcement officer is required to wear a camera that electronically records audio and video while acting in the performance of his or her official duties.

     Under this bill, the cameras are to be funded by forfeiture funds received by the Attorney General as instrumentalities of crime.  Finally, the bill authorizes the Attorney General to promulgate guidelines or directives.