Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Singleton, Sarlo, Gopal and Turner
SYNOPSIS
Makes supplemental appropriation of $30,000,000 to certain law enforcement agencies for NJ Statewide Supplemental Body Worn Camera Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Supplement to the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations act, P.L.2020, c.97.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2020, c.97, there is appropriated out of the General Fund the following sum for the purpose specified:
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66 DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY 10 Public Safety and Criminal Justice 12 Law Enforcement GRANTS-IN-AID |
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09-1020 Criminal Justice .............................................. |
$30,000,000 |
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Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation, |
$30,000,000 |
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Criminal Justice .......................................................... |
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Grants-in-Aid: |
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09 NJ Statewide Supplemental Body Worn Camera Program ................................................ |
($30,000,000) |
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The amount appropriated herein for the NJ Statewide Supplemental Body Worn Camera Program shall provide funding for the purpose of supporting law enforcement departments with existing body worn camera programs implemented prior to the effective date of P.L. c. (pending before the legislature as Senate Bill No. 101 or Assembly Bill No. 4312 of 2020). Any unexpended balance at the end of the 2021 fiscal year is to be carried forward and appropriated for the same purpose.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This supplemental appropriation would appropriate $30,000,000 to the Department of Law and Public Safety toward Grants-in-Aid to establish a New Jersey Supplemental Statewide Body Worn Camera (BWC) program to support certain law enforcement departments.
Specifically, this grant program will provide funding to law enforcement departments which have implemented BWC initiatives prior to the effective date of P.L. c. (pending before the legislature as Senate Bill No. 101 or Assembly Bill No. 4312 of 2020).
BWC’s consist of a mobile video recording system worn by a law enforcement officer. Due to ongoing incidents between police and communities nationwide, many law enforcement agencies throughout the State have purchased BWC equipment for law enforcement officers to ensure accurate documentation of both the citizen and the officer during an interaction. According to a recent survey conducted by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, there are a total of 239 State, county, and municipal agencies which have a BWC program with a total of 12,195 BWC’s deployed.
The cost for BWC equipment varies; however, the cost includes not only the initial purchase of the equipment, but also includes maintenance, data storage, oversight, and replacement due to wear and tear. Many law enforcement departments are experiencing the financial strain of continuing the BWC programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will support those departments maintaining the practice of using the BWCs.