SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3361

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 20, 2021

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3361.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill prohibits the State, local government agencies, and private detention facilities operating in this State from entering into, renewing, or extending immigration detention agreements.  

      Under the bill, an immigration detention agreement is any contract, agreement, intergovernmental service agreement, or memorandum of understanding that authorizes the State, a local government agency, or private detention facility to house or detain individuals for civil immigration violations.  

     The bill also defines a “local government agency” as a county, county sheriff, municipality, or other political subdivision in this State and any agency, officer, employee, or agent thereof.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      1)   add findings and declarations;

      2)   provide that nothing in the bill is to be construed to prohibit, or in any way restrict, any action where the prohibition or restriction would be contrary to federal law, the United States Constitution, or the New Jersey Constitution; and

      3)   make other clarifying and technical changes.