Bill
A 5835
Requires NJ law enforcement to complete standardized mandated-reporting of child abuse training and follow a coordinated response protocol.
Title on file: "Establishes the libraries literacy education guidance act" (text discrepancy noted)
Status: REPORTED — REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
Introduced: June 16, 2025
Primary sponsor: Assemblymember Robert C. Carroll
Cosponsors: John T. McDonald III; Dana Levenberg; Emerita Torres; Tommy Schiavoni; Latrice Walker; Marianne Buttenschon; Al Taylor; Jen Lunsford
Companion: S8044
Note on discrepancy
- The bill title recorded in the header refers to a "libraries literacy education guidance act," but the legislative text included with the introduced version addresses law enforcement training on mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect. This summary follows the actual bill text provided (training for law enforcement). Users should verify the official bill text for the final authoritative language.
Purpose and intent
- Require New Jersey child welfare and criminal justice agencies to create and implement a standardized training curriculum for law enforcement on their duties as mandated reporters of child abuse/neglect and on law enforcement procedures consistent with the DCF/Law Enforcement Model Coordinated Response Protocol.
Key provisions
- Development and coordination
- The Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) in the Department of Children and Families (DCF), in coordination with the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) in the Department of Law and Public Safety, must develop and adopt a training course and curriculum covering:
1. Law enforcement officers’ responsibilities as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect; and
2. Procedures for responding to child abuse/neglect reports in accordance with the DCF/Law Enforcement Model Coordinated Response Protocol.
- Training requirements and timeline
- Initial training: DCJ must ensure the course is included in each officer’s initial training within 90 days of appointment or transfer.
- Recurring in-service: The course must be provided at least once every three years (triannually) as part of in-service training for local police officers statewide.
- Current officers: Officers appointed prior to the bill’s effective date must satisfactorily complete the training within 36 months of the bill’s effective date.
- Ongoing review
- DCPP must periodically assess and update the training curriculum as appropriate.
- Rulemaking
- DCF, in consultation with the Department of Law and Public Safety, must adopt any rules and regulations necessary to implement the act pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Effective date
- The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.
Who would be affected
- Directly affected: All local law enforcement officers in New Jersey (newly appointed, transferred, and incumbent officers), the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the Departments of Children and Families and Law and Public Safety (for rulemaking and implementation).
- Indirectly affected: Children, families, and communities through potentially more consistent and standardized law enforcement responses to suspected abuse and neglect.
Procedural / timeline notes
- Specified timing for inclusion in initial training (within 90 days) and for incumbent completion (within 36 months) sets clear implementation windows.
- Requirement for triannual in‑service training establishes an ongoing compliance cycle.
- The bill directs administrative rulemaking to finalize implementation details.
Potential impacts (practical considerations)
- Standardizes and potentially improves awareness and practice among officers regarding mandated reporting and coordinated responses with DCPP.
- May require curriculum development resources, instructor training, scheduling of in‑service sessions, and administrative tracking to ensure incumbent officers complete the training within the required 36 months.
- Fiscal impact (training costs, staff time) is not specified in the text and would likely be considered during committee/fiscal review.
Legislative actions (as provided)
- Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (6/16/2025)
- Earlier entries show referrals, print number A5835A, and committee actions involving Libraries and Education Technology and Ways and Means (dates in Feb–Apr 2025 are listed in the file). There are duplicate and date-inconsistent entries in the provided record; consult official legislative records for the current committee status and history.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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