Bill Text: NJ A1921 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Concerns AG guidelines on bias incident investigation standards.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-27 - Reported from Assembly Comm. as a Substitute, 2nd Reading [A1921 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A1921-Comm_Sub.html
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
ASSEMBLY, No. 1921
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
ADOPTED JANUARY 27, 2025
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns AG guidelines on bias incident investigation standards.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Substitute as adopted by the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee.
An Act concerning bias incident investigation standards and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section, "bias incident" means any suspected or confirmed violation of paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.2001, c.443 (C.2C:16-1).
b. The Attorney General shall maintain and periodically review the guidelines on bias incident investigation standards, and revise the guidelines as need may require.
c. The guidelines on bias incident investigation standards shall, at a minimum:
(1) require county and municipal law enforcement agencies to report all confirmed or suspected bias incidents through the Electronic Uniform Crime Reporting system as soon as practicable, but not more than 24 hours after the initial law enforcement response;
(2) require county and municipal law enforcement agencies to immediately notify the Attorney General and the county prosecutor when the suspected or confirmed bias incident involves circumstances to be determined by the Attorney General, which may include, but not be limited to: homicide, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated assault, or arson; an organized hate group as the perpetrator; or a potential to generate large-scale public unrest;
(3) require county prosecutors to promptly notify the Attorney General when they intend to file an accusation or seek an indictment alleging bias intimidation;
(4) set forth procedures for the initial and follow-up investigations of a reported bias incident, including the responsibilities of an investigator or a supervisor upon arrival at the scene;
(5) establish criteria for law enforcement officers to apply in confirming a bias incident;
(6) establish requirements for providing instant notification, through means that the Attorney General deems appropriate, to the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the Division of State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the bias crime officers of each county prosecutor's office;
(7) ensure that a victim of a
bias incident receives appropriate information and referral to the Division on
Civil Rights when the incident involves a suspected or confirmed violation of
the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.); and
(8) include provisions for appropriate training and continuing education
for law enforcement officers on detecting and reporting bias incidents and
investigating and prosecuting bias crimes.
d. The Attorney General shall ensure that the chief or director of every county and municipal law enforcement agency, every municipal and county prosecutor, and the Superintendent of State Police are provided with prompt notice of any revisions to the guidelines on bias incident investigation standards.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
