Bill Text: NJ S1740 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Department of State Police.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-11 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S1740 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S1740-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NIA H. GILL
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Department of State Police.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the organization of State government and supplementing chapter 1 of Title 53 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is established in the Executive Branch of State government a principal department which shall be known as the Department of State Police. The department shall assume the functions, powers and duties of the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety.
2. The executive and administrative head of the department shall be the Commissioner of State Police, who shall be a person qualified by training and experience to direct the work of the department. The commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve during the term of the Governor appointing him and until his successor is appointed and qualifies. However, the person serving as Superintendent of State Police on the effective date of this act shall assume the office of Commissioner of State Police and shall hold that office for the unexpired period of the term for which he was appointed or until his successor is appointed and qualifies.
3. a. Pursuant to the "State Agency Transfer Act," P.L.1971, c.375 (C.52:14D-1 et seq.), the functions, powers, duties and employees of the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety are hereby transferred to the Department of State Police established by this act.
b. The functions, powers and duties of the Superintendent of State Police in the Division of State Police are hereby transferred to and vested in the Commissioner of State Police established by this act.
4. a. Whenever the term "Division of State Police" occurs or any reference is made thereto in any law, contract or document, the same shall be deemed to mean or refer to the Department of State Police established by this act.
b. Whenever the term "Superintendent of State Police" occurs or any reference is made thereto in any law, contract or document, the same shall be deemed to mean or refer to the Commissioner of State Police established by this act.
5. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish the New Jersey State Police as a distinct department of the Executive Branch of State government. The Division of State Police would be transformed by this bill into a department of State Government and would no longer be a division of the Department of Law and Public Safety.
All functions, powers and duties of the current division would be transferred to the department pursuant to the "State Agency Transfer Act," P.L.1971, c.375 (C.52:14D-1 et seq.). This bill would ensure that the tenure, retirement and other rights of employees of this division are maintained and protected. The functions, powers and duties of the Superintendent of State Police would be transferred to the Commissioner of State Police, who would head the new department. Upon enactment of the bill, the person serving in the capacity of superintendent would assume the position of Commissioner of State Police.
Under this bill, the Commissioner of State Police would report directly to the Governor. The Attorney General would no longer exercise supervisory authority over State Police operations.
