ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 744

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 9, 1997

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 744 with Assembly Committee amendments.

      Assembly Bill No. 744, as amended by the committee, amends N.J.S.2B:20-10 to exempt from jury duty full-time State, county and municipal police officers and Class Two special law enforcement officers appointed pursuant to P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.8 et seq.).

      As received by the committee, the bill would have relieved not only police officers, but also "members and employees" of State, county and local police forces from jury duty. The committee, at the request of the sponsor, incorporated language proposed by the Administrative Office of the Courts to limit the exemption afforded under the bill to full-time police officers. The committee also amended the bill to clarify that Class Two special law enforcement officers were to be included among the police officers entitled to the exemption since they are authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer.

      Under current law, police officers are not afforded an exemption from jury duty. However, prior to the enactment of that statute in 1995, police officers were exempted from jury duty under the provisions of N.J.S.2A:69-2.

      Presently, exemptions from jury duty are statutorily authorized for persons:

      (1) 75 years of age or older;

      (2) who have served on a jury within the previous three years; or

      (3) who will suffer severe hardship due to circumstances that are unlikely to change within a year (i.e. medical conditions, care of another or financial hardship). In addition, members of volunteer fire departments and first aid or rescue squads and, under certain circumstances, teachers are exempted.

      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 have been performed.