S 1279

[First Reprint]
SENATE, No. 1279
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator� SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators McKnight and Ruiz
SYNOPSIS
���� Creates "Youth Detention Task Force."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety
Committee on March 19, 2026, with amendments.
��
An Act establishing the �Youth Detention Task Force.�
���� Be It
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey: condition
���� 1.��� a.� There is established
the �Youth Detention Task Force.�� The purpose of the task force shall be to assess
the current condition of youth detention in this State and to recommend a
system that would best serve this population. �The task force shall recommend
whether existing county youth detention facilities, facilities managed by the
Youth Justice Commission, or an alternative system of detention would best
serve the youth of this State. �The task force may examine factors including,
but not limited to, available resources, logistical considerations, safety
protocols, staff training, rehabilitation opportunities, and security
requirements.
���� b.��� The task force shall
consist of 1[25] 261 members
as follows:
���� (1)�� four legislative
members, who shall include two members of the Senate, who shall not be of the
same political party, and two members of the General Assembly, who shall not be
of the same political party.� The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General
Assembly, the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the
General Assembly each shall appoint one legislative member 1[.] ;1
���� (2)�� ten ex officio members
or their designees, who shall include the following:
���� (a)�� the Attorney General;
���� (b)�� the Administrative
Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts;
���� (c)�� the Executive Director
of the Youth Justice Commission;
���� (d)�� the Commissioner of
Education;
���� (e)�� the Commissioner of
Children and Families;
���� (f)�� the Commissioner of
Human Services;
���� (g)�� the Public Defender;
���� (h)�� the Superintendent of
State Police;
���� (i)��� the Director of the
Division of Criminal Justice; and
���� (j)��� the Chair of the
Governor�s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee 1[.] ;1
���� (3)�� four public members
appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall include the following:
���� (a)�� a representative of the
New Jersey Association of County Youth Services Commission Administrators who
has been recommended by the Youth Justice Commission;
���� (b)�� a county prosecutor who
has been recommended by the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey;
���� (c)�� a county commissioner
serving in a county which has a youth detention facility; and
���� (d)�� a county commissioner
serving in a county which does not have a youth detention facility 1[.] ;1
���� (4)�� 1[four] five1 public
members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who shall include the
following:
���� (a)�� a representative of the
New Jersey Juvenile Detention Association;
���� (b)�� a representative of the
New Jersey County Jail Wardens Association;
���� (c)�� a representative from
the Sheriffs� Association of New Jersey;
���� 1(d) a
representative from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police;1 and
���� 1[(d)] (e)1� a
County Human Services Director 1[.] ; and1
���� (5)�� three members of the
public with training or experience in the adjudication of youth offenders, who
may be retired Family Court judges or attorneys in private practice, to be
appointed by the Governor.
���� c.���� The members of the task
force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of
funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.
���� 2.��� a.� All appointments to
the task force shall be made within 90 days of the effective date of this act.�
Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.� The
task force shall elect a chairperson from among its members.� The Youth Justice
Commission shall provide staff and administrative support to the task force.
���� b.��� The chairperson shall
call an initial organizational meeting of the task force within 60 days of the
appointment of a majority of the task force members.� The task force may meet
at the call of its chairperson at the times, and in the places it may deem appropriate
and necessary to fulfill its duties, and may conduct public hearings at any
place it shall designate.� The presence of a majority of its members shall
constitute a quorum.
���� c.���� The task force shall be
entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the
employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau,
commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its
purposes.
���� d.��� The task force shall
submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including legislative
proposals, to the Governor and to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) within 18 months of its initial organizational
meeting.
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall expire 30 days after the submission of the report
pursuant to subsection d. of section 2 of P.L.�� , c.� (C.������ ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).