Bill Text: NJ S1158 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes civilian review board to review complaints against Palisades Interstate Park Commission patrolmen.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-23 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S1158 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S1158-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes civilian review board to review complaints against Palisades Interstate Park Commission patrolmen.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a civilian review board to review certain complaints against the Palisades Interstate Park Commission patrolmen and supplementing Title 32 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There shall be a civilian review board that shall review and investigate complaints about the conduct of the patrolmen appointed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission pursuant to R.S.32:14-21.
b. The civilian review board shall consist of seven members. The members shall be residents of a county in New Jersey within which the Palisades Interstate Parkway, or a segment thereof, is situated. The civilian review board members shall be appointed by the Attorney General from qualified persons with training or experience in community relations, civil rights, law enforcement, sociology and other relevant fields for terms of six years, except for the initial appointees, of whom two shall serve for terms of two years, two shall serve for terms of four years and three shall serve for terms of six years. Members of the civilian review board shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. A member may be reappointed to the board.
c. The Attorney General shall appoint a chairman and vice-chairman from among the members of the civilian review board. The chairman and vice-chairman shall serve for terms of two years and may be reappointed. The vice-chairman shall assume the duties of the chairman when the chairman is absent or otherwise incapable of performing his duties or, in the case of removal or a permanent incapacity, until the qualification of a successor chairman appointed by the Attorney General.
d. Vacancies, other than those occurring by expiration of term, shall be filled in the same manner as by expiration of term, but for the unexpired term only. In the event that any member of the board shall be rendered incapable of performing his duties, the Attorney General shall appoint a qualified person to act in that member's stead during the period of his incapacity. Any member may be removed by the civilian review board for cause.
e. Members of the civilian review board shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses of serving, to the extent that funds are available for that purpose.
f. The governing body of any municipality that is adjacent to the Palisades Interstate Parkway, shall, to the extent that funds are made available by the State or other entity, provide such office facilities and assign such professional and clerical staff as are necessary for the civilian review board to properly perform its duties and to keep and maintain appropriate records.
2. It shall be the duty of a civilian review board established pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to review and investigate allegations or complaints about the conduct of the patrolmen appointed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission pursuant to R.S.32:14-21. Such allegations or complaints may be submitted by the public or by other law enforcement officers who, for reasons of confidentiality or anonymity, are unable to report such allegations or complaints openly or in person to the appropriate governmental entity. The civilian review board shall report any findings and recommendations concerning complaints to the Attorney General.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish a civilian review board to review and investigate complaints against members of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission's patrolmen.
The civilian review board would consist of seven members who are appointed by the Attorney General and who would be residents of a county in New Jersey which is adjacent to the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The Attorney General would be required to appoint board members who are qualified persons with training or experience in community relations, civil rights, law enforcement, juvenile justice, sociology and other relevant fields for terms of six years, with certain shorter terms for the initial board members.
The civilian review board would report any findings and recommendations concerning complaints to the Attorney General.
The board would utilize resources of municipalities neighboring the park to the extent that funds for the utilization of such resources are made available by the State or other entity.
