ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2430

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 9, 1997

      The Assembly Community Services Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2430 with amendments.

      As amended by committee, this bill amends P.L.1995, c.273 (C.30:4-14.1 et seq.) by specifying that the training requirements for the Human Services police officers include a course which prepares the officers to handle patients with violent criminal backgrounds and abusive situations between employees and patients, and among patients.

      Also, the bill provides that the training requirements established by the Police Training Commission be satisfied at schools approved by the commission.

      Lastly, the bill specifies a time frame for the successful completion of training requirements. Officers who are appointed after the effective date of the bill must successfully complete the training course within one year of the effective date. Those officers who are appointed and already in employment on the effective date, have 18 months to satisfy the requirements. These time frames are the same as those provided under the current law which this bill amends, P.L.1995, c.273 (C.30:4-14.1 et seq.).

      The amendments are technical in nature and specify that the training of Human Services police officers shall occur at schools approved by, instead of at police academies designated by, the Police Training Commission.

      This legislation is part of a package of bills which was recommended in the Final Report of the Senate Task Force on Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital (June 1996) and is designed to improve the services provided by the Human Services police.

      This bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 1546, which was released by this committee on this date.