ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5122

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 15, 2020

The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5122.

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

     Under this bill, the Civil Service Commission will exempt from the examination any person who demonstrates successful completion of a police training course as approved by the New Jersey Police Training Commission. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  specify that the course must be a full Basic Course for Police Officers;

      (2)  delete language that would have allowed the Civil Service Commission to also exempt a person who has demonstrated to the Police Training Commission, to that commission's satisfaction, that the person has successfully completed a police training course conducted by any Federal, State, or other public or private agency with  substantially equivalent requirements; and

      (3)  allow a municipal or county police department to hire a person, exempt from the requirement to take an examination for an entry-level law enforcement position under the bill, 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.

      These amendments make this bill identical to Senate, No. 3220 (1R).

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note.