New Jersey A 3698: Establishes loan redemption program and gross income tax credit for mental health professionals who serve children and adolescents.

Bill Text

A3698 

ASSEMBLY, No. 3698 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman DONALD A. GUARDIAN

District 2 (Atlantic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Conforms statute to reflect court ruling regarding 
minimum age for eligibility as municipal police officer.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning municipal law enforcement officers and 
amending N.J.S.40A:14-127. 

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

���� 1.��� N.J.S.40A:14-127 is 
amended to read as follows: 

���� 40A:14-127.� Except as 
otherwise herein provided, [no] a 
person shall not be appointed as a member or officer of the police 
department or force in any municipality who is under [21] 18 or over 35 years of 
age.

���� In any municipality wherein 
Title 11 (Civil Service) of the Revised Statutes� is operative, any person who 
shall have met the age requirements herein at the� announced closing date of a 
civil service examination for the position, shall� be considered within the age 
requirements while the civil service list� promulgated as a result of that 
examination is in effect.

���� Nothing herein contained shall 
affect the employment or continuance in office of any person as a permanent 
policeman, employed by said municipality prior to the adoption of the 
ordinance, creating and establishing a paid police department or force.

���� The provisions of this section 
are subject to [chapter 
98 of the laws of 1944� (C. 38:23A-2)] 
P.L.1944, c.98 (C.38:23A-2) relating to maximum age limits for persons 
serving in the armed forces of the United States as therein provided.

(cf: P.L.1971, c.197 s.1)

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill codifies the 
decision of the New Jersey State Supreme Court of affirming that the age of 
majority, which is 18 years of age, is the minimum age for employment 
eligibility as a police officer.

���� Currently, N.J.S.40A:14-127 provides 
that a person is required to be between the ages of 21 and 35 to qualify for appointment 
to a municipal law enforcement agency.� However, in N.J. State Police 
Benevolent Association v. Morristown, 65 N.J. 160 (1974) the court determined 
that the age of majority statute, P.L.1972, c.81 (C.9:17B-1 et seq.), supersedes 
N.J.S.40A:14-127.� The age of majority statute established that a person 
reaches majority at 18 years of age and, therefore, may apply and be appointed to 
public employment, among other rights and obligations.� The court clarified 
that the exceptions provided in the statute do not include employment as a law 
enforcement officer.

���� This bill rectifies the 
discrepancy between State law and the current practice since the court decision.