ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 457

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 25, 1996

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 457.

      Assembly Bill No. 457 amends N.J.S.2A:154-3 to extend to certain trained county corrections officers the tort immunities and general benefits currently afforded other law enforcement officers who have statewide police powers.

      Under the provisions of the bill, a county corrections officer who has full power of arrest pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.2A:154-3, and is acting under lawful authority beyond the territorial limits of his employing county, is afforded all the immunities from tort liability and is entitled to all the pension, relief, disability, workmen's compensation, insurance, and other benefits the officer is otherwise entitled to when performing those duties within the employing county.

      The Legislature extended statewide police powers to county corrections officers who had successfully completed a basic training course approved by the Police Training Commission in 1993 with the enactment of P.L.1993, c.248. That legislation did not address the issues of tort immunity and benefit entitlement.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996 legislative session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.