This bill amends existing New Jersey law to allow individuals who have been granted relief under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to serve as law enforcement officers, correctional police officers, and juvenile corrections officers. Currently, the law mandates that only U.S. citizens can be appointed to these positions. The bill introduces new language to the relevant statutes, stating that individuals who qualify under the DACA program are eligible for appointment, thereby expanding the pool of candidates for these critical roles in public safety.

Additionally, the bill specifies that DACA recipients appointed to these positions will have the right to carry a firearm while performing their duties, as required by their supervising authority. This provision aims to ensure that DACA recipients are treated equally to their U.S. citizen counterparts in terms of responsibilities and rights associated with law enforcement and corrections work. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 30:4-3.11, 30:8-18.1, 52:17B-174