Prohibits law enforcement officer from concealing identity during certain public operations.

A2004

ASSEMBLY, No. 2004

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Haider

SYNOPSIS

���� Prohibits law enforcement officer from concealing
identity during certain public operations.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

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

��

An Act
prohibiting law enforcement officers from concealing
their identity during certain public operations and supplementing Title 2C of
the New Jersey Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this
section, �law enforcement officer� means a member of any federal, State,
county, or municipal law enforcement agency, department, or division of those
governments who is statutorily empowered to act for the detection,
investigation, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons
violating the laws of this State or of the United States.� The term includes
any individual authorized, deputized, or designated by a federal, State,
county, or municipal law enforcement agency to perform the functions of a law
enforcement officer on behalf of the agency.

���� b.��� A law enforcement
officer shall be clearly identified by the officer�s employing agency name or
widely known initials and the officer�s name or unique badge or identification
number on the officer�s uniform.

���� c.���� Except as provided in
subsection d. of this section, a law enforcement officer shall not wear a mask
or disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of the
officer�s official duties.

���� d.��� Subsection c. of this
section shall not apply to a law enforcement officer who is:

���� (1)�� engaged in an undercover
assignment;

���� (2)�� engaged in a special
weapons and tactics team operation using gear necessary to protect the
officer�s face from physical harm while in the performance of the team�s
duties;

���� (3)�� wearing a mask necessary
to perform duties during a water rescue operation;

���� (4)�� wearing a mask designed
to protect against exposure to cold during a declared weather emergency;

���� (5)�� wearing a mask designed
to protect against exposure to smoke during a fire-involved circumstance;

���� (6)�� wearing a mask for
protection against exposure to biological or chemical agents during an incident
where such agents may be present;

���� (7)�� wearing a medical-grade
mask or N95 respirator designed to prevent the transmission of airborne disease,
and has obtained a statement from a licensed physician that the mask or
respirator is necessary to protect the health of the officer; or

���� (8)�� wearing a shield that
does not conceal the officer�s face to protect the officer�s face from harm.

���� e.���� A law enforcement
officer who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a
disorderly persons offense.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill prohibits a law
enforcement officer from concealing the identity of the officer or the
officer�s employing agency when engaged in certain public operations.

���� Under the bill, a law
enforcement officer is defined as a member of any federal, State, county, or
municipal law enforcement agency empowered to act for the detection,
investigation, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons
violating the laws of this State or the country, and includes any person
authorized, deputized, or designated to perform these functions.

���� The bill requires a law
enforcement officer to clearly identify the officer�s agency name or widely
known initials, as well as the officer�s name or unique badge number, on the
officer�s uniform.�

���� The bill also prohibits an
officer from wearing a mask or disguise unless certain exceptions apply.� The
exceptions include undercover work; special weapons and tactical operation
assignments requiring gear to protect the officer�s face; water rescue operations;
work that requires a mask for environmental reasons, such as protection from
smoke inhalation, extreme cold or biohazards, protection from airborne disease
as indicated necessary by a physician; and wearing a shield that does not
conceal the officer�s identity.

���� A law enforcement officer who
violates the bill�s provisions is guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which
is punishable by a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months imprisonment, or
both.