New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A3115

Introduced
1/9/24  

Caption

Establishes training curriculum for auxiliary police officers; awards auxiliary police officers additional service credits on civil service exam for years of service.

Impact

The implications of this legislation are profound in terms of state law and local governance. By ensuring that auxiliary police officers are trained to set standards, the bill aims to create a more reliable auxiliary force that can assist paid officers effectively. This initiative is expected to improve public safety and streamline the integration of volunteers into local law enforcement efforts. It also seeks to establish a clear pathway for auxiliary officers to upgrade their capabilities, enhancing the collaborative dynamic between volunteers and professional law enforcement personnel.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3115 aims to enhance the regulation and training of auxiliary police officers in New Jersey. The bill stipulates that the Police Training Commission (PTC) will be responsible for establishing basic training requirements and approving educational institutions to train auxiliary officers. This represents a significant step towards standardizing the preparation that such officers receive before fulfilling their duties, which often include supporting law enforcement during events such as crowd control and traffic management.

Conclusion

Overall, A3115 reflects an effort to professionalize and legitimize the role of auxiliary police officers within the state's law enforcement framework. By bringing them under formal training and examination protocols, the bill is positioned to improve operational efficiency while recognizing the vital role these volunteers play in supporting public safety.

Contention

Furthermore, the bill includes a provision that awards auxiliary police officers additional rating points on civil service examinations based on their years of service. This advantage, ranging from three to ten points, aims to recognize the experience and commitment of these individuals. However, this clause may introduce debates regarding fairness in the hiring process for full-time police positions, as it could be seen as favoritism towards volunteers over equally qualified candidates who have not served as auxiliaries.

Companion Bills

NJ A2276

Carry Over Establishes training curriculum for auxiliary police officers; awards auxiliary police officers additional service credits on civil service exam for years of service.

Previously Filed As

NJ A2276

Establishes training curriculum for auxiliary police officers; awards auxiliary police officers additional service credits on civil service exam for years of service.

NJ A533

Permits certain special law enforcement officers and auxiliary police officers to carry firearms on duty.

NJ A4735

Permits certain special law enforcement officers and auxiliary police officers to carry firearms on duty.

NJ S1790

Requires Police Training Commission to adopt uniform standards for licensing police officers.

NJ A3294

Requires Police Training Commission to adopt uniform standards for licensing police officers.

NJ A1002

Requires Police Training Commission to establish police officer licensure program.

NJ A1593

Permits exemption from civil service examination requirement for entry-level law enforcement officers, sheriff's officers, and county correctional police officers; permits hiring of such officers under certain conditions.

NJ S784

Requires Police Training Commission to establish police officer licensure program.

NJ A2007

Requires police misconduct training course be included in police basic training curriculum.

NJ A3215

Requires AG to establish uniform police training curriculum.

Similar Bills

NJ A2276

Establishes training curriculum for auxiliary police officers; awards auxiliary police officers additional service credits on civil service exam for years of service.

VA HB1906

Auxiliary grants; independent community living.

VA SB1269

Auxiliary grants; independent community living, report, effective clause.

OR SB58

Relating to expanding the supply of affordable housing; prescribing an effective date.

LA HB598

Requires the establishment of an auxiliary enforcement unit for the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

TX HB896

Relating to auxiliary members of an appraisal review board.

OR SB1020

Relating to expanding the supply of affordable housing; declaring an emergency.

CT SB00993

An Act Concerning Dental Assistants And Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary.