Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman TIMOTHY J. EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Transfers Palisades Interstate Park Commission police force to New Jersey State Park Police.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, amending R.S.32:14-21 and repealing P.L.1981, c.93.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.32:14-21 is amended to read as follows:
32:14-21. [Palisades Interstate Park
Commission may appoint such patrolmen as it may deem necessary for the purpose
of] The Division
of New Jersey State Park Police shall assign police officers to [keeping] maintain order
and [enforcing] enforce the laws
and the provisions of this chapter and chapters 15, 16, and 17 of Title 32
of the Revised Statutes as applied within the State of New Jersey in the
Palisades interstate park. The [patrolmen] police officers
so appointed [shall
be provided with uniforms by the commission and] shall have, within [such] the portions of
Palisades interstate park as lie within the boundaries of this State, and [such] parts of any State,
county, or other public highways as lie within the limits of [such] portions of the park and
all the lands, parks, and parkways in this State under the jurisdiction
of the commission, all the powers, duties, and liabilities of [police officers in cities] State law enforcement
officers in the making of arrests and the execution of criminal process and
the enforcement of all the laws of the State and the provisions of this chapter
and chapters 15, 16, and 17 of Title 32 of the Revised Statutes as applied
within the State of New Jersey. The [commission
may appoint such patrolmen to hold office at the pleasure of the commission or
for such term as the commission may determine and may determine the duties of
such patrolmen] The
terms of service and duties of these police officers shall be determined in the
same manner as any other officer of the New Jersey State Park Police and the
director may make all reasonable rules and regulations respecting [the same] police officer terms
and duties. [Such
patrolmen] These
police officers shall receive [such] compensation as from
time to time may be fixed and determined in the same manner as any other officer
of the New Jersey State Park Police, which shall be paid by the
commission. [Each
of such patrolmen shall be a resident of either this State or the State of New
York, and if a resident of the State of New York he shall not be disqualified
to act as a patrolman in this State by reason of non-residence in this State,
anything in the statutes of this State to the contrary notwithstanding.] As used in this
section, “director” means the
Director of the Division of New Jersey State Park Police.
(cf: P.L.1939, c.191, s.22)
2. P.L.1981, c.93 (C.32:14-4.1 et seq.) is repealed.
3. This act shall take effect immediately, but remain inoperative for 180 days after the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would direct the Division of New Jersey State Park Police (division) to assign police officers (officers) within the jurisdiction of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (commission). Under current law, the commission appoints officers and employs a police force which has duties within the portion of the Palisades Interstate Park located in New Jersey. This bill provides that officers would be hired, serve, and have compensation set in the same manner as all other State Park Police Officers. The bill also removes the provision that would permit officers to be a resident of either New York or New Jersey.
The bill removes the power of the commission to administer a police department and places policing responsibilities for the Palisades Interstate Park with the division, while having the commission remain responsible for providing compensation for the officers serving in the portion of the Palisades Interstate Park located in New Jersey. The bill also repeals statutory authority for the commission to appoint and remove a chief of police.