Establishes task force to study ways to increase diversity within law enforcement agencies.

SJR91

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 91

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes task force to study ways to increase
diversity within law enforcement agencies.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
establishing a task force to
study ways to increase diversity and community representation within law
enforcement agencies.

Whereas,

Law enforcement officers serve a
vital role in all communities of this State by enforcing the law, controlling
crime, and maintaining public order and safety; and

Whereas,

In addition to the regular training
law enforcement officers receive, their own personal experiences and
backgrounds can be extremely valuable in their daily community interactions;
and

Whereas,

When law enforcement officers have a
personal understanding of the common experiences of members of a community, it
helps to promote trust between law enforcement officers and the community; and

Whereas,

In recognition of this, many law
enforcement agencies have taken measures to increase the diversity of their
officers, such as focusing recruitment efforts on underrepresented groups and
providing mentoring to new recruits; and

Whereas,

Despite these ongoing efforts to increase diversity within law enforcement
agencies, many still do not reflect the diversity of the communities they
serve, which may put law enforcement agencies at a disadvantage when trying to
build community relationships; and

Whereas,

It is important for law enforcement
agencies to expand their efforts to diversify, and to consider all possible
strategies that may help to accomplish this goal, so that law enforcement
officers and the communities they serve can work together to keep all residents
of the State of New Jersey safe; now, therefore,

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

���� 1.��� a.�� There is
established the �New Jersey Diversity in Law Enforcement Task Force.�� The task
force shall study ways to increase diversity and community representation
within law enforcement agencies throughout the State of New Jersey including
State, local, and municipal police departments.

���� b.��� The task force shall
consist of 13 members as follows:

���� (1)�� one member of the
Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member of the General
Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who shall each be
of different political parties;

���� (2)�� the Attorney General, or
a designee;

���� (3)�� the President of the New
Jersey State Policemen�s Benevolent Association, or a designee;

���� (4)�� the President of the New
Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, or a designee;

���� (5)�� the President of the New
Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police, or a designee;

���� (6)�� the National President
of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, or a
designee;

���� (7)�� the Executive Director
of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, or a designee;

���� (8)�� the President of the New
Jersey State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP), or a designee;

���� (9)�� two representatives of a
police department in New Jersey, appointed by the Governor.� One of these
representatives should represent an urban community and one of these
representatives should represent a non-urban community; and

���� (10)� two members of the
public, appointed by the Governor.� One of these public members should
represent an urban community and one of these public members should represent a
non-urban community.

���� c.���� The members of this
task force shall be appointed within 30 days of the effective date of this
resolution.� The task force shall organize as soon as practicable after the
appointment of the task force�s members and the task force shall choose a
chairperson from among its members.� The presence of seven members shall
constitute a quorum.

���� d.��� The task force shall
meet regularly as the task force determines or at the call of the chairperson.�
The task force shall hold at least three public hearings in different parts of
the State and elicit testimony from the public at such times and places as the
chair shall designate.

���� e.���� The members of the task
force shall serve without compensation.

���� f.���� Any vacancies in the
membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.

���� g.��� The Department of Law
and Public Safety shall provide stenographic, clerical, and other
administrative assistance and professional staff as the task force requires to
carry out the task force�s work.� The task force shall be entitled to call to
the task force�s assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees
of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or
agency as the task force may require and as may be available for the task
force�s purposes.

���� 2.��� a.�� The task force
shall study methods by which to increase diversity and community representation
within law enforcement agencies across the State of New Jersey.� The task force
shall specifically:

���� (1)�� examine current data,
research, and policies related to diversity issues within law enforcement
agencies;

���� (2)�� examine current
diversity present within law enforcement agencies across the State including
State, local, and municipal police departments;

���� (3)�� identify effective
strategies to increase diversity and community representation within the
State�s law enforcement agencies; and

���� (4)�� develop recommendations
to implement those strategies within law enforcement agencies based on the task
force�s findings.

���� b.��� The task force shall
prepare and submit to the Governor and to the Legislature, pursuant to section
2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a final report no later than one year
after the organization of the task force.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately and shall expire 30 days after the issuance of
the task force�s final report and recommendations to the Governor and the
Legislature.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
establishes the �New Jersey Diversity in Law Enforcement Task Force� to study
ways to increase diversity and community representation within law enforcement
agencies throughout the State of New Jersey including State, local, and municipal
police departments.

���� Law enforcement officers serve
a vital role in all communities throughout the State of New Jersey by enforcing
the law, controlling crime, and maintaining public order and safety.� However,
law enforcement officers are not always representative of the communities they
serve.� In recognition of this, many law enforcement agencies have taken
measures to increase the diversity of their officers, such as focusing
recruitment efforts on underrepresented groups and providing mentoring to new
recruits.� Despite these efforts to increase diversity within law enforcement
agencies, many still do not reflect the diversity of the communities they
serve.� This lack of diversity and community representation within law
enforcement agencies can make it increasingly difficult for law enforcement
officers to build lasting community relationships.� For these reasons, it is
important for law enforcement agencies to expand their efforts to diversify, so
that law enforcement officers and the communities they serve can work together
to keep all residents of the State of New Jersey safe.

���� The task force shall consist
of 13 members with representation from the Senate, the General Assembly, the
Attorney General, the President of the New Jersey State Policemen�s Benevolent
Association, the President of the New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal
Association, the President of the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police,
the National President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives, the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New
Jersey, the President of the New Jersey State Conference of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), two representatives
of local police departments throughout the State, and two representatives of
the public.� The task force shall examine current data, research, and policies
related to diversity issues within law enforcement agencies and examine current
diversity present within law enforcement agencies across the State including
State, local, and municipal police departments.� In addition, the task force
shall identify effective strategies to increase diversity and community
representation within the State�s law enforcement agencies and develop
recommendations to implement those strategies within law enforcement agencies.�
Within a year after the organization of the task force, the task force shall
submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature of the task force�s
findings and recommendations.