P.L. 1996, CHAPTER 40, approved June 20, 1996

Senate No. 474

An Act concerning certain corrections officers and amending N.J.S.2A:154-3.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. N.J.S.2A:154-3 is amended to read as follows:

    2A:154-3. a. All court attendants, sheriff's officers and county correction officers in the competitive class of civil service who have been or who may hereafter be appointed by the sheriff or board of chosen freeholders of any county in this State shall, by virtue of such appointment and in addition to any other power or authority, be empowered to act as officers for the detection, apprehension, arrest and conviction of offenders against the law.

    b. In addition to the powers set forth in subsection a. of this section, any county correction officer who has satisfactorily completed a basic training course approved by the Police Training Commission, as provided by P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-66 et seq.), shall have full power of arrest for any crime committed in his presence anywhere within the territorial limits of the State of New Jersey.

    c. A county correction officer who has full power of arrest pursuant to subsection b. of this section, and is acting under lawful authority beyond the territorial limits of his employing county, shall have all of the immunities from tort liability and shall have all of the pension, relief, disability, workmen's compensation, insurance, and other benefits enjoyed while performing duties within the employing county.

(cf: P.L.1993, c.248, s.1)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides that a county correction 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, shall have all of the immunities from tort liability and shall have all of the pension, relief, disability, workmen's compensation, insurance, and other benefits enjoyed while performing duties within the employing county.

    This bill provides county correction officers with immunities and benefits similar to those that are currently given to municipal police officers who have Statewide police powers.

Provides certain privileges and immunities to county corrections officers under certain circumstances.