New Jersey A 900: Requires civil service examination for police and correctional police officers to include questions to identify implicit racial bias.

Status: Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (as of 2024-01-09)

State: New Jersey · Session: 221 · Bill: A 900

Subjects: CIVIL SVC, MINORITY, POLICE

Sponsors: Reynolds-Jackson, Verlina

Bill Text

ASSEMBLY, No. 900

STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS
Requires civil service examination for police and correctional police officers
to include questions to identify implicit racial bias.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A900 REYNOLDS-JACKSON
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AN ACT concerning the Civil Service Examination for law 1
enforcement officers and supplementing Title 11A of the New 2
Jersey Statutes. 3
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BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State 5
of New Jersey: 6
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1. The Civil Service Commission, in consultation with the 8
appropriate testing professional, shall include on the Civil Service 9
Examination for entry-level law enforcement officers questions 10
designed to identify implicit bias, including racial bias. 11
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2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month 13
next following enactment, but the Civil Service Commission may 14
take any anticipatory administrative action necessary to implement 15
the provisions of this act. 16
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STATEMENT 19
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This bill requires the State Civil Service Commission to include 21
on the Civil Service entry-level law enforcement examination 22
questions designed to identify implicit bias, including racial bias, in 23
candidates applying for appointment to law enforcement officer 24
positions. The test is required for applicants for municipal and 25
county police officers, adult and juvenile correctional police 26
officers, sheriff’s officers, and other law enforcement officer 27
positions. 28
Implicit bias refers to unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that 29
affect our understanding, actions, and decisions and may cause 30
feelings and attitudes about other people based on characteristics 31
such as race, ethnicity, age, and appearance. 32

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