SENATE, No. 2069

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED APRIL 25, 2016

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  ANTHONY R. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Somerset)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Permits certain off-duty law enforcement officers to carry firearms on State property.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning law enforcement officers and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.  a.  A law enforcement officer shall be permitted to carry a firearm on State property, including the State capitol complex, as defined in section 3 of P.L.1992, c.67 (C.52:31-36), at all times.

     b. For the purposes of this section, "law enforcement officer" means:

     (1) a person exempted from the provisions of N.J.S.2C:39-5, pursuant to paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (7), and paragraphs (9) and (11) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:39-6;

     (2) a corrections officer exempted from the provisions of N.J.S.2C:39-5, pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:39-6; and

     (3) a person exempted from the provisions of N.J.S.2C:39-5, pursuant to paragraphs (9), (10), (12), (13), (14), and (16) of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:39-6.

 

     2.  This act shall take effect immediately.

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill provides that off-duty law enforcement officers are permitted to carry a firearm onto any State property, including the capitol complex, which includes the State House, the State House Annex, any ancillary structures, facilities or components that are integral to the operation or use of the State House or State House Annex, and the adjacent public grounds, walkways, driveways and parking areas.

     The bill defines "law enforcement officer" to include federal law enforcement officers; members of the State Police; certain members of sheriff's departments; certain members of prosecutor's offices; certain State investigators; State park police; State conservation officers; county, State and Juvenile Justice Commission corrections officers; members of municipal and county police departments; special law enforcement officers; New Jersey Transit and other railway police officers; campus police officers; parole officers; Human Services police officers; and Housing Authority police officers.

     It is the sponsor's intent to enhance the public safety by permitting law enforcement officers who carry a firearm at all times, as a result of their employment, to carry a firearm on State property, including when those law enforcement officers are off-duty.