This bill seeks to establish comprehensive standards for the investigation and reporting of bias incidents by law enforcement agencies in New Jersey. It requires all county and municipal law enforcement agencies to report confirmed or suspected bias incidents through the Electronic Uniform Crime Reporting system within 24 hours of the initial response. Additionally, agencies must notify the Bias Crime Unit in the Division of Criminal Justice and the appropriate county prosecutor immediately if the incident involves serious crimes, a law enforcement officer as the alleged perpetrator, an organized hate group, or has the potential to incite public unrest. The bill also mandates that county prosecutors inform the Division of Criminal Justice promptly when they intend to file accusations related to bias intimidation.

Moreover, the bill outlines specific responsibilities for law enforcement executives, including the development of formal directives, public announcements of policies, and ensuring proper training for officers on bias incident response and investigation. It establishes criteria for confirming bias incidents, mandates timely follow-up investigations, and requires collaboration with community leaders. The Division of Criminal Justice is tasked with updating or creating continuing education courses on bias incident detection and investigation, in collaboration with the Police Training Commission and other relevant agencies, to ensure law enforcement training remains effective in addressing bias-related issues. This initiative aims to enhance professionalism and accountability within law enforcement agencies while improving community relations.