New Jersey A 4154: Concerns long term tax exemptions on certain age-restricted low-income housing.

Bill Text

A4154 

ASSEMBLY, No. 4154 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Permits certain fire police units to appoint fire 
police officers. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning fire police officers and amending 
R.S.15:8-4.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� R.S.15:8-4 is amended to 
read as follows:

���� 15:8-4.� a.� Any duly 
organized volunteer fire company may provide for the appointment of [certain of] its members 
to perform certain police duties at fires and fire drills, for a term of office 
not exceeding five years from the date of the appointment.� 

���� b.��� A fire police unit, 
established by appointment of members from volunteer fire companies pursuant to 
subsection a. of this section, may appoint volunteers who are not members of a 
volunteer fire company to perform certain police duties at fires and fire drills 
for a term of office not exceeding five years from the date of appointment, if 
the unit:

���� (1)�� is incorporated;

���� (2)�� has filed appropriate 
tax forms;

���� (3)�� insures all members 
of the unit; and

���� (4)�� has a designated 
station number.

���� No person shall be 
appointed as a fire police officer pursuant to this subsection unless the 
person:

���� (1)�� is sound in body and 
of good health;

���� (2)�� is of good moral 
character; and

���� (3)�� has not been 
convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.

���� c.���� The [appointed] members appointed 
pursuant to subsection a. or b. of this section shall, before entering upon 
their duties, qualify by:

���� (1)�� Successfully completing 
a basic fire police training course formulated or approved by the Division of 
Fire Safety.

���� (2)�� Taking and subscribing 
an oath that they will justly, impartially and faithfully discharge their 
duties according to the best of their ability and understanding.� The oath 
shall be administered by the municipal clerk or a notary public and 
subscribed to in duplicate.� The original copy of the oath shall be filed with 
the municipal clerk or notary public administering the oath and the copy 
thereof filed with the secretary of the fire company or fire police unit 
making the appointment.

���� After appointment, a qualified 
member shall be eligible as a fire police officer and shall have full power and 
authority to act as a fire police officer anywhere in the county in which he is 
appointed or in any other county in which he is called upon to act.

���� It shall be the duty of a 
member of the fire police to perform his duties under the supervision of the 
fire officer in charge of the fire or fire drill, until the arrival of a duly 
authorized police officer, who shall assume responsibility for the supervision 
of the performance of traffic duties, preservation of evidence and all other 
law enforcement duties.� Nothing in this paragraph shall diminish the powers of 
the chief or other superior officer of any volunteer fire company in the 
exercise of his duties pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1981, c.435 
(C.40A:14-54.1).

���� The duties of [said] the 
fire police subject to the supervision aforesaid shall be to:

���� (1)�� Protect property and 
contents.

���� (2)�� Establish and maintain 
fire lines.

���� (3)�� Perform such traffic 
duties as necessary, from the fire station to and at the vicinity of the fire, 
fire drill or other emergency call, until the arrival of a duly authorized 
police officer or at any public event where fire police services may be requested 
to protect the public, subject to the approval of and supervision by the chief� 
law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the public event takes 
place, or the Superintendent of State Police if the municipality does not have 
a police department.

���� (4)�� In the absence of 
investigating authorities, fire police shall investigate all causes of fires 
and preserve all evidence pertaining to questionable fires and turn evidence 
over to proper investigating authorities.

���� (5)�� Wear the authorized fire 
police badge on the left breast of the outermost garment while on duty.

���� Provided, however, nothing 
herein contained shall give the fire police or any of them the right to 
supersede a duly authorized police officer.

���� If any person shall 
unreasonably refuse to obey the orders of the fire police, a fire police 
officer may arrest him and keep him under arrest until the fire is extinguished 
or the drill completed. If the offender is found guilty by a municipal court or 
Superior Court, he shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $200 and 
costs.

(cf: P.L.1998, c.61, s.1)

���� 2.��� This act shall take 
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill authorizes certain 
fire police units to appoint fire police officers, and permits a not