ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 2131

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 20, 2022

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2131 (1R).

      This bill provides that one or more police officers may be present at a senior residential center being used as a polling place or school if there is a request by the center or school.  The bill specifies that the officers must be in plain clothes.

      Under current law, police officers are permitted to be present at a senior residential center being used as a polling place.  The provision of current law that prohibits any such officer from interfering with any person present at the location for the purpose of voting will remain in place.

      The bill also requires the center notify the district board if the center requests a police officer, the district board then will notify the county board of elections or superintendent of elections who will notify the Secretary of State. 

      The bill requires the Secretary of the Department of Education and the Secretary of State to notify schools of the new mandate as soon as the bill becomes law.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 2131 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 2912 (1R), which also was reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.