Bill Text: NJ A3622 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Establishes the "Advisory Committee on Law Enforcement Handler-Canine Training."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee [A3622 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-A3622-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY, No. 3622

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 12, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Assemblyman  GORDON M. JOHNSON

District 37 (Bergen)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes the "Advisory Committee on Law Enforcement Handler-Canine Training."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act establishing an advisory committee on the oversight and training of dogs used for the purposes of law enforcement.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  There is created, within the Office of the Attorney General in the Department of Law and Public Safety, the "Advisory Committee on Law Enforcement Handler-Canine Training."

     b.    The advisory committee shall consist of fifteen members as follows: the Attorney General, the Superintendent of the Division of State Police, the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, the Administrator of the New Jersey Police Training Commission, ex-officio or their designees; two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall not be of the same political party; two members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who shall not be of the same political party; and seven public members to be appointed by the Governor.  Of the seven public members appointed by the Governor: four representatives shall be from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police; two representatives shall be from the Sheriffs' Association of New Jersey; and one representative shall be from the United States Police Canine association. Of the members of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police appointed to the advisory committee, two shall represent cities of the first and second class and two shall represent cities of the third and fourth class.  Of the members of the Sheriffs' Association of New Jersey one shall be a representative of northern New Jersey and one shall be a representative of southern New Jersey. The public members appointed by the Governor shall possess handler-canine team expertise or be knowledgeable of the issues facing the handler-canine training law enforcement community.  The members shall appoint a chairperson and vice-chairperson of the advisory committee from among its membership.

     c.     Any vacancy on the advisory committee shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

     d.    The advisory committee shall organize within three months after the appointment of a majority of its members. The committee shall convene a minimum of three times.

     e.     Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the advisory committee for this purpose.

     f.     A majority of the members of the advisory committee shall constitute a quorum, and no action of the advisory committee shall be taken except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the entire advisory committee.

     g.    The Department of Law and Public Safety shall provide primary staff support to the advisory committee.

 

     2.    The advisory committee shall:

     a.     Analyze current State oversight of training of handler-canine teams used for the purposes of law enforcement and make recommendations, if necessary, to improve the training process;

     b.    Study and analyze the economic and social impact of the potential legalization of marijuana in New Jersey on handler-canine training teams used for the purposes of law enforcement;

     c.     Examine, consider, and make recommendations pertaining to changes required in the handler-canine training program, if any, for effective implementation of marijuana laws and policies; and

     d.    Submit to the Attorney General, not more than one year after its organization, a report with any recommendations for legislation, new rules and regulations, or revisions to existing rules and regulations which the advisory committee deems necessary for proper oversight of training of handler-canine teams used for purposes of law enforcement. A copy of the report shall be transmitted to the Legislature in accordance with the requirements of section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the 30th day after submission by the advisory committee of its report.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill establishes, in the Department of Law and Public Safety, the "Advisory Committee on Law Enforcement Handler-Canine Training."

     The advisory committee would consist of fifteen members including: the Attorney General, the Superintendent of State Police, the Commissioner of Corrections, and the Administrator of the Police Training Commission, ex-officio or their designees; two members of the Senate; two members of the General Assembly not of the same political party; and seven public members to be appointed by the Governor.  The seven public members appointed by the Governor should possess handler-canine team expertise or be knowledgeable of the issues facing the New Jersey handler-canine training law enforcement community. Of the public members appointed: one would represent the United States Police Canine association, two would represent the Sheriffs' Association of New Jersey, and four would represent the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.  The members would appoint a chairperson and vice-chairperson of the advisory committee from among its membership.

     Members of the advisory committee would serve without compensation, but would be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The Department of Law and Public Safety would be required to provide primary staff support to the advisory committee.

     The advisory committee is charged with:

     1.    Analyzing current State oversight of the training of handler-canine teams used for the purposes of law enforcement and making recommendations, if necessary, to improve the training process;

     2.    Studying and analyzing the economic and social impact of the potential legalization of marijuana in New Jersey on handler-canine training teams used for the purposes of law enforcement; and

     3.    Examining, considering, and making recommendations pertaining to changes required in handler-canine training for effective implementation of marijuana laws and policies.

     The advisory committee is to submit to the Attorney General, not more than one year after its organization, a report with any recommendations for legislation, new rules and regulations, or revisions to existing rules and regulations which the advisory committee deems necessary for proper oversight of the training of handler-canine teams used for purposes of law enforcement

     New Jersey handler-canine drug detection teams are currently trained to detect marijuana. The potential legalization of recreational marijuana may create legal concerns for officers in conducting drug searches.  This advisory committee will provide the Attorney General with recommendations on any needed changes to the training of handler-canine drug detection teams should marijuana be legalized in New Jersey.

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