SENATE, No. 2200

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 16, 2014

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL

District 10 (Ocean)

Senator  PETER J. BARNES, III

District 18 (Middlesex)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Extends authority to appoint Class Two special law enforcement officers to perform court security duties to all county sheriffs.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning Class Two special law enforcement officers and amending P.L.2013, c.21. 

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 1 of P.L. L.2013, c.21 (C.40A:9-117b) is amended to read as follows:

     1.    a.  For the purposes of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.8 et seq.), a county sheriff [of a county that has established a county police department or force] shall be entitled to act as a local unit, as defined in that act, and appoint Class Two special law enforcement officers for the purposes set forth in subsection b. of this section.

     b.    Class Two special law enforcement officers appointed pursuant to subsection a. of this section may be authorized to perform court security duties for the Superior Court when deemed appropriate by the Assignment Judge of the county.  Class Two officers appointed pursuant to this section shall be subject to the same requirements, rules, and regulations established by the Assignment Judge of the county for sheriff's officers performing court security within the Superior Court's facilities in that county.  The particular court security duty assignments of Class Two officers appointed pursuant to this section shall be determined by the sheriff with the approval of the Assignment Judge of the county.  The utilization of Class Two officers appointed pursuant to this section, and the court security assignments they are authorized to perform, shall be incorporated into the local court security plan as approved by the Assignment Judge of the county.  The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to alter or abrogate in any manner either the sheriff's responsibilities or the authority of the Assignment Judge under subsection d. of N.J.S.2B:6-1.

(cf:  P.L.2013, c.21, s.1)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately. 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     Under this bill, county sheriffs in every county in this State would be authorized to appoint Class Two special law enforcement officers to perform court security duties under the direction of the county Assignment Judge.  Under current law, only county sheriffs in counties that have a county police department or force are authorized to appoint Class Two special law enforcement officers to perform these duties.  Counties that currently have a police department or force include Bergen, Camden, and Union.

     Prior to the enactment of P.L.2013, c.21, only municipalities were authorized to hire Class One and Class Two special law enforcement officers to provide supplementary police services to the municipal police department or force.  Class One special law enforcement officers are authorized to perform routine traffic detail, spectator control, and similar duties. They also may be empowered to issue summonses for disorderly persons offenses, but are not authorized to carry a firearm while on duty.  Class Two special law enforcement officers are empowered to exercise full police powers and perform the duties of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer.  They are authorized to carry a firearm.

     P.L.2013, c.21 extended the authority to hire Class Two special law enforcement officers to county sheriffs of counties that have a county police department or force for the limited purpose of performing court security duties.  This bill would further extend this authority to all 21 county sheriffs.