A1593

An Act concerning civil service examination requirement for entry-level law enforcement officers, sheriff’s officers, and county correctional police officers, and amending P.L.2021, c.7.

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

1. Section 1 of P.L.2021, c.7 (C.11A:4-1.3) is amended to read as follows:

1. a. The Civil Service Commission shall exempt from the requirement to take an examination for an entry-level law enforcement officer position, entry-level sheriff’s officer position, or entry-level county correctional police officer position a person who [has] successfully [completed] completes a full Basic Course for Police Officers training course or a full Basic Course for Correction Officers training course at a school approved and authorized by the New Jersey Police Training commission within nine months from the date of hire as a provisional entry-level officer under the provisions of this section.

(1) Any person employed under the provisions of this section shall enroll in a training course approved by the New Jersey Police Training Commission, and such person shall be entitled to a leave of absence with pay during the period of the training course.

(2) Upon successful completion of the training course, any person employed under the provisions of this section shall be promoted from a provisional entry-level law enforcement police officer, provisional entry-level sheriff’s officer, or provisional entry-level county correctional police officer to an entry-level law enforcement officer, entry-level sheriff’s officer, or entry-level county correctional police officer, as appropriate.

b. [The Civil Service Commission shall promulgate, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations and establish administrative processes that are reasonable, necessary, and consistent with the provisions of this act.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

c. (1)A municipal or county police department may hire a person, exempt from the requirement to take an examination for an entry-level law enforcement officer position pursuant to subsection a. of this section, upon adoption of an ordinance or resolution by the governing body authorizing such hiring by the police department and the adoption of a conflict of interest and nepotism policy.

(2) A county sheriff’s department may hire a person, exempt from the requirement to take an examination for an entry-level sheriff’s officer position pursuant to subsection a. of this section, upon the adoption by the county sheriff of a conflict of interest and nepotism policy.

(3) A county correctional facility, except one under the control or supervision of a county sheriff, may hire a person, exempt from the requirement to take an examination for an entry-level county correctional police officer position pursuant to subsection a. of this section, upon adoption of an ordinance or a resolution by the governing body authorizing such hiring by the county correctional facility and the adoption of a conflict of interest and nepotism policy. A county correctional facility that is under the control or supervision of a county sheriff may hire a person, exempt from the requirement to take an examination for an entry-level county correctional police officer position pursuant to subsection a. of this section, upon the adoption by the county sheriff of a conflict of interest and nepotism policy, without the need for an ordinance or a resolution by the governing body

d. Permanent entry-level officers and entry-level officers serving in a working test period who are employed by a municipal or county police department, county sheriff’s department, or county correctional facility shall not be appointed by a different municipal or county police department, county sheriff’s department, or county correctional facility utilizing the provisions of this section and municipal or county police departments, county sheriff’s departments, or county correctional facilities may not utilize the provisions of this section to circumvent the intergovernmental transfer process regulations established by the Civil Service Commission for officers which requires written authorization from the departing authority.

e. The Civil Service Commission shall promulgate, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations and establish administrative processes that are reasonable, necessary, and consistent with the provisions of this section.

f. No sheriff’s investigator shall be hired as a sheriff’s officer in accordance with provisions of this section.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.7, s.1)

2. This act shall take effect six months following enactment, except the Civil Service Commission may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

Under current law, a person must pass the civil service examination prior to becoming eligible for employment as an entry-level county correctional police officer.

Under this bill, a county or municipal police department, county sheriff’s office, or a county correctional facility is permitted to recruit and employ a person as a provisional entry-level officer prior to taking the appropriate training course and such person will be exempt from taking the civil service examination for an entry-level officer position.

The bill also requires the person to successfully complete the appropriate training course within nine months from the date of hire and requires that, upon successful completion of the course, the person will be promoted from a provisional entry-level officer to an entry-level officer. The bill, permits a sheriff’s department to hire a person under the provisions of the bill upon adoption of a conflict of interest and nepotism policy by the county sheriff.

The bill also prohibits the use of the law to circumvent the intergovernmental transfer process and removes the current provision of the law permitting the exemption from the requirement to take the civil service examination for an entry-level law enforcement officer position for those persons who have successfully completed the required training course.