Bill Text: NJ A341 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Clarifies procedure for municipalities sharing police patrol responsibilities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [A341 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A341-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JON M. BRAMNICK
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
Assemblywoman HOLLY SCHEPISI
District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Clarifies procedure for municipalities sharing police patrol responsibilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning shared police patrol responsibilities and amending various sections of statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 4 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-4) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. (1) Any local unit may enter into an agreement with any other local unit or units to provide or receive any service that each local unit participating in the agreement is empowered to provide or receive within its own jurisdiction, including services incidental to the primary purposes of any of the participating local units.
(2) Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any agreement between local units for the provision of shared services shall be entered into pursuant to sections 1 to 37 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-1 et al.); provided, however, that agreements regarding shared services that are otherwise regulated by statute, rule, or regulation are specifically excluded from sections 1 to 37 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-1 et al.).
(3) The board is authorized to render a decision in the determination of the statutory basis under which a specific shared service is governed.
b. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall be filed, for informational purposes, with the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the director.
c. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this section that relates to the sharing of police patrol responsibilities shall not be effective until approved by the Attorney General.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.63, s.4)
2. Section 6 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-6) is amended to read as follows:
6. a. In the case of an agreement for the provision of services by an officer or employee of a local unit who is required to comply with a State license or certification requirement as a condition of employment, the agreement shall provide for the payment of a salary to the officer or employee and shall designate one of the local units as the primary employer of the officer or employee for the purpose of that person's tenure rights. If the agreement fails to designate one of the local units as the primary employer, then the local unit having the largest population, shall be deemed the primary employer for the purposes of that person's tenure rights.
b. A State department or agency with oversight over specific activities that are the subject of a shared service agreement may promulgate whatever rules and regulations it deems necessary to ensure that the service continues to be provided in accordance with the requirements of that department or agency.
c. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to agreements for the sole purpose of sharing police patrol responsibilities.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.63, s.6)
3. Section 8 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-8) is amended to read as follows:
8. a. Whenever two or more local units enter into an agreement, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-4), for the shared provision of law enforcement services within their respective jurisdictions, the agreement shall recognize and preserve the seniority, tenure, and pension rights of every full-time law enforcement officer who is employed by each of the participating local units and who is in good standing at the time the ordinance authorizing the agreement is adopted, and none of those law enforcement officers shall be terminated, except for cause; provided, however, this provision shall not be construed to prevent or prohibit a merged law enforcement entity from reducing force as provided by law for reasons of economy and efficiency.
b. To provide for the efficient administration and operation of the shared law enforcement services within the participating local units, the agreement may provide for the appointment of a chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer. In that case, the agreement shall identify the appropriate authority to whom the chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer reports and also shall provide that any person who is serving as the chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer in one of the participating local units at the time the contract is adopted may elect either:
(1) to accept a demotion of no more than one rank without any loss of seniority rights, impairment of tenure, or pension rights; or
(2) to retire from service.
A person who elects retirement shall not be demoted, but shall retain the rank of chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer and shall be given terminal leave for a period of one month for each five-year period of past service as a law enforcement officer with a participating local unit. During the terminal leave, the person shall continue to receive full compensation and shall be entitled to all benefits, including any increases in compensation or benefits, that he may have been entitled to if he had remained on active duty.
c. Whenever the participating local units have adopted or are deemed to have adopted Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes with regard to the provision of law enforcement services, and the agreement provides for the appointment of a chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer, the position of chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer shall be in the career service.
d. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to agreements for the sole purpose of sharing police patrol responsibilities.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.63, s.8)
4. Section 11 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-11) is amended to read as follows:
11. a. When a local unit contracts, through a shared service or joint meeting, to have another local unit or a joint meeting provide a service it is currently providing using public employees and one or more of the local units have adopted Title 11A, Civil Service, then the agreement shall include an employment reconciliation plan in accordance with this section that and, if one or more of the local units have adopted Title 11A, Civil Service, shall specifically set forth the intended jurisdiction of the Civil Service Commission. An employment reconciliation plan shall be subject to the following provisions:
(1) a determination of those employees, if any, that shall be transferred to the providing local unit, retained by the recipient local unit, or terminated from employment for reasons of economy or efficiency, subject to the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreements within the local units.
(2) any employee terminated for reasons of economy or efficiency by the local unit providing the service under the shared service agreement shall be given a terminal leave payment of not less than a period of one month for each five-year period of past service as an employee with the local unit, or other enhanced benefits that may be provided or negotiated. For the purposes of this paragraph, "terminal leave payment" means a single, lump sum payment, paid at termination, calculated using the regular base salary at the time of termination. Unless otherwise negotiated or provided by the employer, a terminal leave benefit shall not include extended payment, or payment for retroactive salary increases, bonuses, overtime, longevity, sick leave, accrued vacation or other time benefit, or any other benefit.
(3) the Civil Service Commission shall place any employee that has permanent status pursuant to Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes that is terminated for reasons of economy or efficiency at any time by either local unit on a special reemployment list for any civil service employer within the county of the agreement or any political subdivision therein.
(4) when a proposed shared service agreement affects employees in local units subject to Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes, an employment reconciliation plan shall be filed with the Civil Service Commission prior to the approval of the shared service agreement. The commission shall review it for consistency with this section within 45 days of receipt and it shall be deemed approved, subject to approval of the shared service agreement by the end of that time, unless the commission has responded with a denial or conditions that must be met in order for it to be approved.
(5) when an action is required of the Civil Service Commission by this section, parties to a planned shared service agreement may consult with that commission in advance of the action and the commission shall provide such technical support as may be necessary to assist in the preparation of an employment reconciliation plan or any other action required of the commission by this section.
b. If all the local units that are parties to the agreement are subject to the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes, the Civil Service Commission shall create an implementation plan for the agreement that will: (1) transfer employees with current status in current title unless reclassified, or (2) reclassify employees into job titles that best reflect the work to be performed. The Civil Service Commission shall review whether any existing hiring or promotional lists should be merged, inactivated, or re-announced. Non-transferred employees shall be removed or suspended only for good cause and after the opportunity for a hearing before the Civil Service Commission; provided, however, that they may be laid-off in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.11A:8-1 et seq., and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The final decision of which employees shall transfer to the new employer is vested solely with the local unit that will provide the service and subject to the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreements within the local units.
c. If the local unit that will provide the service pursuant to a shared service agreement is subject to Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes, but the local unit to receive the service is not subject to that Title, and the contracting local units desire that some or all employees of the recipient local unit are to be transferred to the providing local unit, the Civil Service Commission shall vest only those employees who have been employed for one year or more in permanent status pursuant to N.J.S.11A:9-9 in appropriate titles, seniority, and tenure with the providing local unit based on the duties of the position. The final decision of which employees shall transfer to the new employer is vested solely with the local unit that will provide the service and subject to the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreements within the local units.
d. If the local unit that will provide the service is not subject to the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes, but the local unit that will receive the service is subject to that Title and the parties desire that some or all employees of the recipient local unit are to be transferred to the providing local unit, the transferred employees shall be granted tenure in office and shall only be removed or suspended for good cause and after a hearing; provided, however, that they may be laid-off in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.11A:8-1 et seq., and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The transferred employees shall be subject to layoff procedures prior to the transfer to the new entity. Once transferred, they will be subject to any employment contracts and provisions that exist for the new entity. The final decision of which employees shall transfer to the new employer is vested solely with the local unit that will provide the service and subject to the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreements within the local units.
e. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to agreements for the sole purpose of sharing police patrol responsibilities.
(cf: P.L.2008, c.29, s.101)
5. N.J.S.40A:14-152 is amended to read as follows:
40A:14-152. The members and officers of a police department and force, within the territorial limits of the municipality, or within the territorial limits of any other municipality that has entered into a shared service agreement to share police patrol responsibilities with the local unit employing those members and officers, shall have all the powers of peace officers and upon view may apprehend and arrest any disorderly person or any person committing a breach of the peace. Said members and officers shall have the power to serve and execute process issuing out of the courts having local criminal jurisdiction in the municipality and shall have the powers of a constable in all matters other than in civil causes arising in such courts.
(cf: N.J.S.40A:14-152)
6. N.J.S.40A:14-156 is amended to read as follows:
40A:14-156. In the event of an emergency the chief or other head of any municipal police department and force or any park police department or system, municipal fire department and force, volunteer fire company, or first aid or ambulance squad, corps or company, or the mayor or chief executive officer of the municipality may request, from the chief or other head of the police department and force of any other municipality, assistance outside the territorial jurisdiction of the department to which such request is directed for police aid, in order to protect life and property or to assist in suppressing a riot or disorder and while so acting, the members of the police department and force supplying such aid shall have the same powers and authority as have the members of the police department and force of the municipality in which such aid is being rendered. Said members shall also have, while so acting, such rights and immunities as they may otherwise enjoy in the performance of their normal duties in the municipality, or other territorial jurisdiction, rendering such assistance.
The chief or head of the police department and force to whom such a request for assistance is made shall, in the case of a contiguous municipality, provide such personnel and equipment as requested to the extent possible without endangering person or property within the municipality rendering such assistance.
Any municipality receiving assistance hereunder shall pay to the police department and force providing the assistance a sum computed at the rate of $3.00 for each member and $5.00 for each vehicle for each hour supplied unless terms and conditions for payment are otherwise provided for in an agreement between the several municipalities.
If any member of such other police department and force in rendering such assistance shall suffer a casualty or death, he or his designee or legal representative shall be entitled to all salary, pension rights, workmen's compensation and other benefits to which such member or officer would be entitled if such casualty or death occurred in the performance of his normal duties in the municipality, or other territorial jurisdiction rendering such assistance.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to police officers participating in a shared service agreement for the sole purpose of providing shared police patrol responsibilities throughout multiple jurisdictions.
(cf: P.L.1977, c.400, s.2)
7. Section 3 of P.L.1992, c.145 (C.40:48B-4.1) is amended to read as follows:
3. Whenever the governing bodies of two or more local units enter into a joint contract as provided in P.L.1952, c.72 (C.40:48B-1 et seq.) for the joint operation of law enforcement services within their respective jurisdictions, excluding joint contracts for the sole purpose of providing shared police patrol responsibilities, the joint contract shall recognize and preserve the seniority, tenure, and pension rights of every full time law enforcement officer who is employed by each of the participating local units and who is in good standing at the time the ordinance or resolution, as the case may be, authorizing the contract is adopted, and no such law enforcement officer shall be terminated except for cause; however, for reasons of economy and efficiency the contract may authorize a reduction in force.
Whenever the governing bodies of two or more local units enter into a joint contract as provided in P.L.1952, c.72 (C.40:48B-1 et seq.) for the joint operation of law enforcement services within their respective jurisdictions, excluding joint contracts for the sole purpose of providing shared police patrol responsibilities, and any one of the local units is operating under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes at the time of the contract, the other local unit or units shall be deemed to have adopted Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes with regard to the provision of law enforcement services.
To provide for the efficient administration and operation of the joint law enforcement services within the participating local units, the joint contract may provide for the appointment of a chief law enforcement officer. In such cases, the joint contract shall provide that any person who is serving as the chief law enforcement officer in one of the participating local units at the time the joint contract is adopted may elect either:
a. To accept a demotion of no more than one rank without any loss of seniority rights, impairment of tenure, or pension rights; or
b. To retire from service.
If the person elects retirement, he shall not be demoted but shall retain the rank of chief law enforcement officer and shall be given terminal leave for a period of one month for each five year period of past service as a law enforcement officer with the participating local unit. During the terminal leave, the person shall continue to receive full compensation and shall be entitled to all benefits, including any increases in compensation or benefits, that he may have been entitled to if he had remained on active duty.
Whenever the participating local units have adopted or are deemed to have adopted Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes with regard to the provision of law enforcement services, and the contract provides for the appointment of a chief law enforcement officer, the position of chief law enforcement officer shall be in the career service.
(cf: P.L.1992, c.145, s.3)
8. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The purpose of this bill is to clarify the procedure for municipalities seeking to share police patrol responsibilities through a shared service agreement. Under N.J.S.A.40A:65-6, a traditional shared service policing agreement would require the designation of one municipality as the "primary employer." This designation is unnecessary when the purpose of the shared service agreement is to allow each municipality to patrol the other's territory at a set schedule. Similarly, the requirements of N.J.S.A.40A:65-8 and N.J.S.A.40A:65-11, concerning the preservation of seniority and tenure, and the adoption of an employment reconciliation plan and approval by the Civil Service Commission, are not applicable for agreements to merely share police patrol responsibilities. The bill also would require agreements to share police patrol responsibilities to be approved by the Attorney General.
