[Second Reprint] SENATE, No. 3506 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 221st LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED JUNE 26, 2024
[Second Reprint]
SENATE, No. 3506
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JUNE 26, 2024
Sponsored by: Senator PAUL D. MORIARTY District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester) Senator DECLAN J. O'SCANLON, JR. District 13 (Monmouth) SYNOPSIS Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on March 17, 2025, with amendments.
Sponsored by:
Senator PAUL D. MORIARTY
District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester)
Senator DECLAN J. O'SCANLON, JR.
District 13 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on March 17, 2025, with amendments.
An Act concerning 1training law enforcement for1 crowd management during certain large gatherings 1and flash mobs1 and supplementing Title 52 of the New Jersey Statutes. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. a. For purposes of this section: "Flash mob" 1[or "pop-up party"]1 means a gathering 1or pop-up party1 of 50 or more persons, typically organized through social media or other electronic communication, that occurs without advance notice to the municipality or other local governmental unit and that impacts public safety. "Large-scale gathering" means any public or private gathering with greater than 500 attendees. b. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Superintendent of State Police, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, shall establish a training program 2[for any municipal] to enhance the ability of a local2 police department or force 2[located within a municipality that, within the preceding twelve months, hosted two or more large-scale 1[social]1 gatherings or 1[had] where1] to manage an incident involving a large-scale gathering or 2 a flash mob 1[or pop-up party occur] 2[occurred1]2. The training program shall include, but not be limited to: (1) general crowd management 2and crowd control2 techniques; (2) crowd management 2and crowd control2 techniques applicable to juveniles; (3) strategies for responding to social media activity related to large-scale gatherings 1or flash mobs1; (4) best practices for coordination and resource sharing with 2county and2 neighboring 2municipal2 law enforcement agencies; and (5) best practices for ensuring the safety of attendees, the public, and law enforcement during a 1[flash mob or]1 large-scale gathering 1or flash mob1. c. The Attorney General shall 2[make] establish and maintain protocols through which2 the following resources 2may be requested by and made2 available to any 1[local or]1 municipal police department or force that 2[has participated in the training program established pursuant to subsection b. of this section] requires assistance beyond its own personnel and resources in managing an incident involving a large-scale gathering or flash mob2: (1) access to social media monitoring tools 2and intelligence resources provided through the Division of State Police2; (2) mobile command units that may be deployed during a large-scale gathering or, if practicable, during a flash mob 1[or pop-up party]1; and (3) 1[additional]1 personnel 1[support]1 from 2county and neighboring municipal law enforcement agencies and from2 the 2[New Jersey] Division of2 State Police 1to provide support1, as needed 2, in accordance with principles established under the protocols or any applicable memoranda of understanding or mutual aid plan2. 1d.1 The 2[Attorney General shall establish] protocols required by this section shall include2 a process 2[for 1[requesting] a municipal police department or force to request1] by which a municipal police force or department may, for exigent need, request2 immediate support during a flash mob 1[or pop-up party]1. 1[d.] e.1 Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Attorney General may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
An Act concerning 1training law enforcement for1 crowd management during certain large gatherings 1and flash mobs1 and supplementing Title 52 of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. For purposes of this section:
"Flash mob" 1[or "pop-up party"]1 means a gathering 1or pop-up party1 of 50 or more persons, typically organized through social media or other electronic communication, that occurs without advance notice to the municipality or other local governmental unit and that impacts public safety.
"Large-scale gathering" means any public or private gathering with greater than 500 attendees.
b. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Superintendent of State Police, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, shall establish a training program 2[for any municipal] to enhance the ability of a local2 police department or force 2[located within a municipality that, within the preceding twelve months, hosted two or more large-scale 1[social]1 gatherings or 1[had] where1] to manage an incident involving a large-scale gathering or 2 a flash mob 1[or pop-up party occur] 2[occurred1]2. The training program shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) general crowd management 2and crowd control2 techniques;
(2) crowd management 2and crowd control2 techniques applicable to juveniles;
(3) strategies for responding to social media activity related to large-scale gatherings 1or flash mobs1;
(4) best practices for coordination and resource sharing with 2county and2 neighboring 2municipal2 law enforcement agencies; and
(5) best practices for ensuring the safety of attendees, the public, and law enforcement during a 1[flash mob or]1 large-scale gathering 1or flash mob1.
c. The Attorney General shall 2[make] establish and maintain protocols through which2 the following resources 2may be requested by and made2 available to any 1[local or]1 municipal police department or force that 2[has participated in the training program established pursuant to subsection b. of this section] requires assistance beyond its own personnel and resources in managing an incident involving a large-scale gathering or flash mob2:
(1) access to social media monitoring tools 2and intelligence resources provided through the Division of State Police2;
(2) mobile command units that may be deployed during a large-scale gathering or, if practicable, during a flash mob 1[or pop-up party]1; and
(3) 1[additional]1 personnel 1[support]1 from 2county and neighboring municipal law enforcement agencies and from2 the 2[New Jersey] Division of2 State Police 1to provide support1, as needed 2, in accordance with principles established under the protocols or any applicable memoranda of understanding or mutual aid plan2.
1d.1 The 2[Attorney General shall establish] protocols required by this section shall include2 a process 2[for 1[requesting] a municipal police department or force to request1] by which a municipal police force or department may, for exigent need, request2 immediate support during a flash mob 1[or pop-up party]1.
1[d.] e.1 Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Attorney General may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.