New Jersey-2018-S2858-Chaptered

An Act concerning law enforcement badges and badges that may be mistaken as law enforcement badges and supplementing Titles 27 and 32 of the Revised Statutes, Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes, and Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the New Jersey Transit Corporation shall not issue a law enforcement badge or badge that may be mistaken as a law enforcement badge to any member of the corporation's board of directors.

2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shall not issue a law enforcement badge or badge that may be mistaken as a law enforcement badge to any commissioner of the port authority.

3. a. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a county shall not issue a law enforcement badge or a badge that may be mistaken as a law enforcement badge to any county elected official who is not elected as a law enforcement officer.

b. As used in this section, "law enforcement officer" means a person who is empowered to act for the detection, apprehension, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons in violation of the law.

4. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a municipality shall not issue a law enforcement badge or a badge that may be mistaken as a law enforcement badge to any municipal elected official.

5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a law enforcement badge or a badge that may be mistaken as a law enforcement badge shall not be issued to any State elected official.

6. a. Section 2 of this act shall take effect upon the enactment into law by the State of New York of legislation having an identical effect as section 2, but if the State of New York shall have already enacted such legislation, section 2 of this act shall take effect immediately.

b. Section 1 and sections 3 through 5 of this act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill prohibits the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) from issuing a law enforcement badge or a badge that may be mistaken as a law enforcement badge to any member of the corporation's board of directors. The bill also prohibits the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (port authority) from issuing a law enforcement badge or a badge that may be mistaken as law enforcement badge to any commissioner of the port authority.

The bill also prohibits a county from issuing a law enforcement badge or a badge that may be mistaken as a law enforcement badge to any county elected official who is not elected as a law enforcement officer. Lastly, the bill prohibits a municipality and the State from issuing a law enforcement badge or a badge that may be mistaken as a law enforcement badge to any municipal or State elected official.

The bill defines "law enforcement officer" to mean a person who is empowered to act for the detection, apprehension, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons in violation of the law.

The provisions of the bill take effect immediately, except that the provision concerning the port authority is to take effect upon New York enacting legislation with an identical effect. However, if New York has already enacted legislation with an identical effect, that provision is to take effect immediately.

Prohibits issuance of certain badges to NJT board members, PANYNJ commissioners, and local and State elected officials.