SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 538

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 6, 1996

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No.538. 

      Current law permits newly hired police officers, adult or juvenile corrections officers or juvenile detention officers to assume the powers and duties of those positions before they have completed their required training.

      As amended and released by the committee, this bill requires those officers to complete a basic training course or police training course, as appropriate, at a school approved by the Police Training Commission prior to assuming the powers and duties of a police officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer or juvenile detention officer. The bill repeals section 4 of P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-69), which permits probationary or temporary police officers to serve as police officers for up to 18 months before completing their required training.

      The committee amended the bill to extend its provisions to adult or juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention officers. As introduced, the bill was applicable only to police officers.