Bill Text: NJ S2475 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Allows firefighter to serve as crossing guard.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-07-29 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S2475 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S2475-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Allows firefighter to serve as crossing guard.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning crossing guards and amending P.L.1979, c.82
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1979, c.82 (C.40A:9-154.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. The governing body, or the chief executive, or the chief administrative officer, as appropriate to the form of government of any municipality, may appoint adult school crossing guards for terms not exceeding one year and revoke such appointments for cause and after proper hearing before the chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer of the municipality. No person shall be appointed as an adult school crossing guard unless he:
a. Is a citizen and resident of this State;
b. Is sound in body and of good health;
c. Is of good moral character; and
d. Has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
An adult school crossing guard, or a person performing the duties of an adult crossing guard on a temporary basis, may be a member of the police department or force, or of the fire department or force of the municipality, or of a volunteer fire company serving the municipality, and his powers and duties as an adult school crossing guard shall cease at the expiration of the term for which he was appointed. [He] An adult school crossing guard, or a person performing the duties of an adult crossing guard on a temporary basis, shall not have the right to bear firearms or the power of arrest unless the crossing guard is also a member of a police department or force.
Every adult school crossing guard shall be under the supervision and direction of the chief of police or other chief law enforcement officer of the municipality wherein he is appointed and shall perform his duties only in such municipality. [He] An adult school crossing guard, and any person performing the duties of an adult crossing guard on a temporary basis, shall comply with the rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of the regular police officers of the municipality. Before any adult school crossing guard is appointed the chief of police shall ascertain the eligibility of the applicant and make a report to the governing body, or the chief executive or chief administrative officer, as the case may be.
(cf: P.L.1996, c.113, s.15)
2. Section 2 of P.L.1979, c.82 (C.40A:9-154.2) is amended to read as follows:
2. Every adult school crossing guard shall be trained for the proper performance of his duties and responsibilities. Such training shall consist of a minimum of two hours of classroom instruction which shall include information on methods of traffic control and the duties and responsibilities of adult school crossing guards and a minimum of 20 hours of field training in which the trainee shall be supervised by an experienced adult school crossing guard or a regular police officer. This training requirement may be waived by the chief of police for an adult school crossing guard, or a person performing the duties of an adult crossing guard on a temporary basis, who is also a police officer or firefighter.
(cf: P.L.1996, c.113, s.16)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would permit municipalities to appoint firefighters as adult crossing guards. The bill provides that a chief of police may allow a firefighter to serve as a crossing guard without having completed the training normally required for crossing guards. Current law allows a chief of police to waive this requirement for a police officer serving as a crossing guard.
