STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 916

with Senate Floor Amendments

(Proposed By Senator GIRGENTI)

ADOPTED: JUNE 27, 1996

      These Senate amendments would permit certain law enforcement officers who retire from law enforcement duties because of job related disabilities to apply for permission to carry handguns.

      The amendment specifies that the disability responsible for the officer's retirement may be an ordinary disability, an accidental disability, or a special disability. The only restriction is that the disability must not be of such a nature that would disqualify the retired officer from carrying a firearm under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:58-3.

      While the bill currently requires qualified retirees to have a minimum of 20 years of full time service as law enforcement officers, the amendments provides that an officer who retires on a disability would be eligible five years of full-time service.