Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Revises modified basic training program for certain county correctional police officers to be certified as county prosecutor’s detectives or investigators or county or municipal police officers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended by the Senate on June 3, 2021.
An Act concerning the modified basic training program for county 1[corrections] correctional police1 officers and 1[amending P.L.2019, c.247] supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes1.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1[1. Section 1 of P.L.2019, c.247 (C.52:17B-68.2) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. The Police Training Commission in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall develop a supplemental course to be known as the modified basic training program for county corrections officers. The program shall provide the additional training necessary to allow an eligible county corrections officer to be certified as a county sheriff's officer, detective or investigator in the county prosecutor’s office, or county or municipal police officer. The Police Training Commission shall develop the program within 180 days of the effective date of [this act] P.L.2019, c.247 and shall revise the program within 30 days of the effective date of P.L. , c. (now pending before the Legislature as this bill).
b. A county corrections officer is eligible for the modified basic training program if the officer has:
(1) previously completed a basic training course administered by the Police Training Commission pursuant to P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-66 et seq.);
(2) been designated by the county sheriff as eligible to transition into the position of sheriff's officer or by the chief executive officer of the county or municipality, as appropriate, as eligible to transition into the position of detective or investigator in the county prosecutor’s office, or county or municipal police officer based on the officer's law enforcement examination test score and seniority;
(3) served in the county correction's officer title for a minimum of [36] 12 months in the facility under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff or the chief executive officer of the county, whichever is applicable; and
(4) a criminal history record background check of the officer has been conducted by the appointing authority and the officer has not been deemed ineligible to transition to the position of sheriff's officer, detective or investigator in the county prosecutor’s office, or county or municipal police officer on the basis of any conviction disclosed by the background check.
c. The modified basic training program shall, at a minimum, provide comprehensive and consistent training in law enforcement practices and concepts. Each course instructor shall be proficient and experienced in law enforcement practices and concepts.
d. The modified basic training program shall be offered at an academy approved by the Police Training Commission to provide police training courses pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-66 et seq.).
e. The waiver rule set forth in N.J.A.C.13:1-8.4 authorizing the Police Training Commission to waive all or part of a basic training course shall apply to an eligible county corrections officer taking the modified basic training program developed pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
f. A county corrections officer who successfully completes the modified basic training program shall be eligible for a lateral transfer to the position of sheriff's officer, detective or investigator in the county prosecutor’s office, or county or municipal police officer in [the] any county or municipality, as applicable, in [which the officer serves] the State. An officer eligible for a lateral transfer shall not be denied a transfer to an available position without cause.
g. The Civil Service Commission shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to implement the provisions of this section.
(cf: P.L.2019, c.247, s.1)]1
11. a. The Police Training Commission shall revise the modified basic training program for county correctional police officers established in section 1 of P.L.2019, c.247 (C.52:17B-68.2) to provide the additional training necessary for an eligible county correctional police officer to be certified as detective or investigator in the county prosecutor’s office or a county or municipal police officer.
b. The commission shall complete the revisions to the modified basic training program no later than 60 days following the effective date of P.L. , c. (now pending before the Legislature as this bill).
c. A county correctional police officer is eligible for the revised modified basic training program established in subsection a. of this section if:
(1) the officer served in a county correctional facility that closed in calendar year 2021;
(2) the officer served in the county correctional police officer title for a minimum of 12 months in the facility under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff or the chief executive officer of the county, whichever is applicable;
(3) the officer previously completed a basic training course administered by the Police Training Commission pursuant to P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-66 et seq.);
(4) the officer has been designated by the county sheriff as eligible to transition into the position of sheriff's officer or by the chief executive officer of the county or municipality, as appropriate, as eligible to transition into the position of detective or investigator in the county prosecutor’s office or county or municipal police officer; and
(5) a criminal history record background check of the officer has been conducted by the appointing authority and the officer has not been deemed ineligible to transition to the position of detective or investigator in the county prosecutor’s office or county or municipal police officer on the basis of any conviction disclosed by the background check.
d. The waiver rule set forth in N.J.A.C.13:1-8.4 authorizing the Police Training Commission to waive all or part of a basic training course shall apply to an eligible county correctional police officer taking the revised modified basic training pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
e. An eligible county correctional police officer who successfully completes the modified basic training established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.247 (C.52:17B-68.2) shall be eligible for a transfer to a position as sheriff’s officer in any county in the State and an eligible officer who successfully completes the revised modified basic training established pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be eligible for a transfer or lateral title change, as appropriate, to the position of detective or investigator in the county prosecutor’s office or county or municipal police officer in any county or municipality, as applicable, in the State. An officer eligible for a transfer or lateral title change pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be denied a transfer or title change to an available position without good cause.
f. The Civil Service Commission may adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to implement the provisions of this section.1
2. This act shall take effect immediately.