NJSBA headquarters NJSBA headquarters, New Brunswick, NJ. Credit: Google

Capitol Report

Police licensing legislation moves through committees, awaits budget committee nods

A bill that would require the Police Training Commission (PTC) to establish and implement a police-licensing program moved out of substantive committees last week. S2742 (Greenstein)/A4194 (Reynolds-Jackson) passed out of the state Assembly and Senate Law and Public Safety committees and were referred to the respective budget committees to review the $6 million appropriation to fund the measure. The New Jersey State Bar Association has not taken a position on the bill itself, but a report from its Commission on Racial Equity in the Law (COREL) approves the concept as a strategy to combat anti-Black racism in the legal system and in the practice of law.

"New Jersey is one of five states that does not license police officers," according to the report, which laid out recommendations for licensing requirements based on a review of those of other states. Those requirements include: