ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1536

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 1, 1997

      The Assembly Housing Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1536 (2R).

      Senate Bill No. 1536 (2R) permits the governing body of a municipality of the first class with a population of more than 270,000 persons, according to the 1990 federal decennial census, to establish, by ordinance, a housing authority police force to patrol housing authority grounds, buildings, facilities and other areas. The bill also provides that housing authority police officers would be deemed regular law enforcement officers.

      The bill also provides that housing authority police officers appointed under the bill's provisions would have all of the immunities from tort liability and all of the pension, relief, disability, workers' compensation, insurance and other benefits enjoyed by regular law enforcement officers while performing their duties.