Bill Text: NJ A3876 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes that certification for police training course lasts five years.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-15 - Substituted by S2731 [A3876 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A3876-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JON M. BRAMNICK
District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
Assemblywoman CONNIE WAGNER
District 38 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes that certification for police training course lasts five years.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning police training and amending P.L.1961, c.56.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-68) is amended to read as follows:
a. Every municipality and county shall authorize attendance at an approved school by persons holding a probationary appointment as a police officer, and every municipality and county shall require that no person shall hereafter be given or accept a permanent appointment as a police officer unless such person has successfully completed a police training course at an approved school; provided, however, that the commission may, in its discretion, except from the requirements of this section any person who demonstrates to the commission's satisfaction that he has successfully completed a police training course conducted by any Federal, State or other public or private agency, the requirements of which are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this act.
b. A police officer who is terminated from an agency for reasons of economy or efficiency shall be granted an exemption or waiver from retaking the basic training course if, within five years from the date of termination, the police officer is appointed to a similar law enforcement position in another agency or is reemployed by the agency from which he was terminated.
(cf: P.L.1971, c.321, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes that certain laid-off police officers would not have to retake the basic police training course if they are employed within five years from the date of being laid-off.
Under Police Training Commission policy, a police officer who has a break in service of more than three years must retake the basic training course. Under the bill, police officers appointed to a similar law enforcement position in another agency or reemployed by the agency from which they were terminated would not have to retake the basic police training course if the date of termination was within five years from the new appointment.
According to the sponsor, due to current economic conditions, it is taking longer for laid off police officers to find new employment. This bill would give these police officers more time to procure a new job without having to retake the course.
