ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3179

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 14, 2024

      The Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3179.

      As reported by the committee, this bill concerns certain emergency operations plans that are required to be submitted to law enforcement agencies.

     Under current law, all sports and entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and places of worship are required to annually prepare an emergency operations plan in coordination with the appropriate local fire, law enforcement, and emergency response agencies.  A copy of the plan is to be filed with the municipal emergency management coordinator and the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the sports and entertainment facility, movie theater, or place of worship is situated.  The plan is required to include a copy of the building plans or building layout that identifies the internal and external access routes.

     Under the provisions of this bill, all sports and entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and places of worship are required to file the emergency operations plan in an electronic format that is compatible with public safety software systems.  In addition, the bill requires the emergency operations plan to include emergency mapping data.  The bill defines “emergency mapping data” as a digital representation of a building’s interior and exterior that is verified for accuracy by a person and provided to public safety officials as set forth under current law electronically and in a printable format through existing public safety software systems. 

     The bill requires the emergency mapping data to include an aerial image of the building; a geospatially referenced floor plan or building schematic; site specific labeling of rooms, suite numbers, and key features; locations of hazardous material and utility shut-offs; and any other relevant information.

     Current law defines “place of worship” to mean a building capable of seating more than 500 people, including but not limited to a church, mosque, or synagogue, used primarily as a place of public or private worship on a permanent basis by a recognized and established religious sect or denomination registered as a not-for-profit organization pursuant to current law.  This bill changes that definition from a building capable of seating more than 500 people to a building capable of seating more than 300 people.

      As reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 3179  is identical to Assembly Bill No. 2941, which was also reported by the committee on this date.