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S 4210

Authorizes the local enactment of residency requirements for certain employees of police departments

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamaal Bailey and 1 co-sponsor

A five-year Paterson pilot limits expunged-record disclosures to indictable offenses for most public-employment roles, excluding certain court leadership positions.

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 4210

Summary of Bill S 4210

Note: The bill text provided appears to reflect a pilot program focused on expunged records in Paterson's municipal government context, even though the bill’s title mentions residency requirements for police department employees. The summary below is based on the introduced version content describing a five-year pilot related to expunged records and employment in Paterson.

Overview

  • Purpose: Establish a five-year pilot program in the City of Paterson to govern how expunged records and related information are disclosed and used for certain public employment opportunities in the municipal court system, and in city law enforcement and corrections agencies.
  • Policy aim: Reduce undue barriers to employment for individuals who have expunged records or non-conviction outcomes (where arrest/charges did not lead to a conviction), while preserving safety considerations for qualifying positions.
  • Effective date: 90 days after enactment.
  • Status: Referred to Investigations and Government Operations; introduced March 3, 2025.
  • Sponsors: Primary — Kevin S. Parker; Cosponsor — Jamaal Bailey.
  • Related bills (for context): Several prior-session S bills and a companion A bill (A 3287).

Major Provisions

  • Establishment of a five-year pilot program in Paterson

    • Scope: Applies to employment within Paterson’s municipal court system or within its law enforcement or corrections agencies.
    • Limitation period: The pilot runs for five years from the effective date.

  • Scope of disclosure during the pilot

    • During the five-year period, the requirements in N.J.S.2C:52-27(c) that previously mandated disclosure of expunged records and information, and treated expunged materials as providing a disability, would apply only to records and information related to a conviction for an indictable offense (crime of the fourth degree or higher).
    • Exclusions from the pilot’s scope:
    • Records or information related to arrests or charges that did not result in a conviction or finding of guilt (dismissed, acquitted, or discharged cases).
    • Records or information related to convictions or findings of guilt for disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, or violations of municipal ordinances (non-indictable offenses).

  • Exclusions for certain roles

    • Court leadership roles are excluded from the pilot: individuals seeking employment as court director, court administrator, or deputy court administrator must still disclose expunged records and information under the existing statute (N.J.S.2C:52-27(c)).

  • Post-pilot reporting and evaluation

    • At the conclusion of the five-year pilot, Paterson must submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature (per P.L.1991, c.164, C.52:14-19.1) detailing the implementation, outcomes, and recommendations regarding continuation, modification, expansion, or termination of the program.

Who Is Affected

  • Potential applicants for Paterson municipal court system employment, and for positions within Paterson’s law enforcement or corrections agencies.
  • Excluded during the pilot: applicants for court director, court administrator, or deputy court administrator positions (who must continue to disclose expunged records as currently required).

Timeline and Procedures

  • Pilot duration: 5 years from the effective date (90 days after enactment).
  • Monitoring: City of Paterson must prepare and submit an official evaluation report at the end of the pilot period to the Governor and Legislature.
  • Implementation date: Effective 90 days after enactment; pilot starts thereafter.

Implications and Considerations

  • Potential to broaden hiring pools by limiting expunged-record disclosures to indictable offenses only, during the pilot.
  • Balances employment opportunities for qualified individuals with public safety concerns by retaining stricter disclosure for more serious, indictable offenses.
  • Results could inform statewide policy whether to expand, modify, or terminate the approach beyond Paterson.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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