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Bill > S1327
NJ S1327
NJ S1327Revises method of determining reimbursement costs when a law enforcement entity hires a recently trained officer from another law enforcement entity.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under New Jersey law, when a law enforcement entity hires a recently trained officer from another law enforcement entity, it is required to compensate the officer's former employer for the costs associated with that officer's hiring and training. The law sets forth two levels of liability. In those cases where the officer has held a permanent appointment for 30 days or less, the new employer is required to reimburse the officer's former employer for all the costs associated with the officer's hiring and training. In those cases where the officer has held a permanent appointment for more than 30 days, but less than two years, the new employer is required to reimburse the officer's former employer for one-half of the costs associated with the officer's hiring and training. While there is no debate over what constitutes the "cost" of hiring and training a law enforcement officer, there are, however, conflicting interpretations concerning the time frames, particularly the treatment of an officer's provisional period of appointment. Under this bill, the starting point for the time frames is the date the officer completed his or her required police training. It also shortens the period for which a new employer is liable for reimbursement payments. In those cases where the officer has been employed for 120 days or less from the date of completing the required police training course, the new employer is required to reimburse the officer's former employer for all the costs associated with the officer's hiring and training. In those cases where the officer has been employed for more than 120 days, but less than two years from the date of completing the police training course, the new employer is required to reimburse the officer's former employer for one-half of the costs associated with the officer's hiring and training.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the rules for how much a new law enforcement employer must reimburse an officer's former employer for hiring and training costs when an officer moves between agencies. Previously, if an officer had a permanent appointment for 30 days or less, the new employer paid all costs, and if they had a permanent appointment for more than 30 days but less than two years, the new employer paid half the costs. This bill changes the starting point for these calculations to the date the officer completed their required police training, not their appointment date. Under the new rules, if an officer completed their training 120 days or less before resigning, the new employer will pay all hiring and training costs. If the officer completed their training more than 120 days but less than two years before resigning, the new employer will pay half of those costs. These changes apply to officers moving between county, municipal, educational institution, State law enforcement agencies, and the New Jersey Transit Police Department.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S1327 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S1500/1327_I1.HTM |
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