New Jersey Senate Bill S1365

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/22
• Refer: 2/3/22

Caption

Revises method of determining reimbursement costs when a law enforcement entity hires a recently trained officer from another law enforcement entity.

Impact

The bill effectively shortens the liability period for reimbursement. If an officer is hired within 120 days of their training completion, the new employer must cover the full training costs incurred by the former employer. Conversely, if the officer has been with the previous employer for more than 120 days but less than two years, the new employer is only responsible for half of the training costs. This change aims to alleviate some financial stress from law enforcement agencies that need to quickly fill positions with skilled personnel.

Summary

Senate Bill S1365, introduced in New Jersey, aims to revise the reimbursement costs incurred when a law enforcement agency hires a recently trained officer from another agency. This bill modifies the existing framework to streamline and clarify the reimbursement obligations that current law enforcement entities have towards former employers of officers who transition between roles. It establishes specific time frames that set conditions under which reimbursement is applicable, detailing the financial responsibilities of the new employers.

Contention

Despite the intentions behind S1365, there have been discussions regarding the specifics of the reimbursement provisions, particularly around the definitions of training costs and the determinations of what constitutes a qualified period of employment. Increase in debate may stem from concerns over how the bill might impact the financial decisions made by local law enforcement agencies when hiring, especially if they are hesitant to invest in newly trained officers that may leave shortly after hire.