Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Supplemental appropriation of $2,000,000 to New Jersey Division of State Police establishing temporary unit to monitor certain social media posts and provide support to local police.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, P.L.2021, c.133.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2021, c.133, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, there is appropriated from the General Fund the following amount for the purpose specified:
66 DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
10 Public Safety and Criminal Justice
12 Law Enforcement
1200 Division of State Police
DIRECT STATE SERVICES
06-1200 Division of State Police ....................................... $2,000,000
Total Direct State Services Appropriation,
Law Enforcement ............................................. $2,000,000
Direct State Services:
06 Special Purpose,.................................... ($2,000,000)
Division of State Police Shore Municipality Monitoring Unit
The Division of State Police Shore Municipality Monitoring Unit shall monitor social media for reports of unpermitted mass gatherings in shore municipalities and provide support to municipal law enforcement as required during the summer season.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This supplemental appropriation provides $2 million to establish a temporary Shore Municipality Monitoring Unit within the Division of State Police (DSP) to monitor and support New Jersey shore communities during the summer of 2022 from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
This DSP Shore Municipality Monitoring Unit would be responsible for monitoring social media for notices of unpermitted mass gatherings on public beaches that are anticipated to attract a crowd of 500 or more people. Additionally, funds are to be utilized by the DSP Shore Municipality Monitoring Unit to assist local law enforcement agencies in ensuring those unpermitted gatherings remain orderly.
On May 21, 2022 the municipality of Long Branch, New Jersey experienced one of these unpermitted mass gatherings after a social media posting drew large crowds that authorities said threatened public safety. First responders reportedly included the Long Branch Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT), Monmouth and Middlesex Rapid Deployment Forces (RDF), Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police, Department of Corrections, and NJ Transit Police. Last summer, there were several similar situations of large-scale pop-up parties in the same area of the State.
These unpermitted mass gatherings affect not only public safety when not patrolled effectively, but also affect the economic wellbeing of businesses who rely on visitors to the New Jersey shore during the summer season.