52:17B-68.3 Basic training program for county correctional police officers, revised.
1. a. The Police Training Commission shall revise the modified basic training program for county correctional police officers established in section 1 of P.L.2019, c.247 (C.52:17B-68.2) to provide the additional training necessary for an eligible county correctional police officer to be certified as detective or investigator in the county prosecutor's office or a county or municipal police officer.
b. The commission shall complete the revisions to the modified basic training program no later than 60 days following the effective date of P.L.2021, c.107.
c. A county correctional police officer is eligible for the revised modified basic training program established in subsection a. of this section if:
(1) the officer served in a county correctional facility that closed in calendar year 2021;
(2) the officer served in the county correctional police officer title for a minimum of 12 months in the facility under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff or the chief executive officer of the county, whichever is applicable;
(3) the officer previously completed a basic training course administered by the Police Training Commission pursuant to P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-66 et seq.);
(4) the officer has been designated by the county sheriff as eligible to transition into the position of sheriff's officer or by the chief executive officer of the county or municipality, as appropriate, as eligible to transition into the position of detective or investigator in the county prosecutor's office or county or municipal police officer; and
(5) a criminal history record background check of the officer has been conducted by the appointing authority and the officer has not been deemed ineligible to transition to the position of detective or investigator in the county prosecutor's office or county or municipal police officer on the basis of any conviction disclosed by the background check.
d. The waiver rule set forth in N.J.A.C.13:1-8.4 authorizing the Police Training Commission to waive all or part of a basic training course shall apply to an eligible county correctional police officer taking the revised modified basic training pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
e. An eligible county correctional police officer who successfully completes the modified basic training established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.247 (C.52:17B-68.2) shall be eligible for a transfer to a position as sheriff's officer in any county in the State and an eligible officer who successfully completes the revised modified basic training established pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be eligible for a transfer or lateral title change, as appropriate, to the position of detective or investigator in the county prosecutor's office or county or municipal police officer in any county or municipality, as applicable, in the State. An officer eligible for a transfer or lateral title change pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be denied a transfer or title change to an available position without good cause.
f. The Civil Service Commission may adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to implement the provisions of this section.
L. 2021, c.107.