SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 538

with Senate committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 10, 1997

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 538 (1R) of 1996 with amendments.

      Senate Bill No. 538 (1R), as amended, requires newly hired municipal or county police officers, and newly hired State or county adult or juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention 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 deletes subsection b. of section 5 of P.L.1988, c.176 (C.52:17B-68.1) and repeals section 4 of P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-69), which permits probationary or temporary periods so these officers could serve as officers for one year (with certain extensions possible) before completing their required training. Newly hired municipal and county police officer is defined in current law to include any employee of a law enforcement unit, including sheriffs' officers and county investigators in the office of the county prosecutors.

      Under current law, newly hired municipal and county police officers, adult or juvenile corrections officers or juvenile detention officers are permitted to assume the powers and duties of those positions before they have completed their required training. Probationary officers also are granted leave of absence with pay to attend the required training. Probationary periods for newly hired police officers have been permitted since 1961 and for corrections and juvenile detention officers since 1988.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to delete a reference to probationary appointments for police officers. These probationary appointments are being eliminated by the bill.

FISCAL IMPACT

      This bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note since it will not have an impact on State revenues or expenditures.