More bias training for police inches closer

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May 19, 2022 View in browser   By Jonathan Custodio Presented by the NJ Board of Public Utilities Police recruits are one step closer to more extensive training. The five-member Senate Law and Public Safety Committee today unanimously advanced legislation that would mandate cultural diversity and implicit bias training to be included in the police basic training curriculum. Under New Jersey law, uniform cultural diversity training must be developed by the Department of Law and Public Safety for already anointed officers, but that instruction doesn't extend to police recruits. The bill, which made it through the Assembly in February, also extends training course requirements to include implicit bias — defined as "having attitudes towards people or associating stereotypes with them without conscious knowledge" — in policing, and specialized training for instructors at basic training academies. Jeff Feldman, director of advocacy and communications for the National Association of Social Workers, testified that implicit bias is not limited to race. "Implicit bias can be expressed in relation to non-racial factors including gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity," Feldman said. Gov. Phil Murphy began phasing in implicit bias training in law enforcement in 2020. But under New Jersey law, training is only mandated once every five years. The legislation serves as another potential notch in a belt to enhance training and qualification for law enforcement officers. Its advancement follows Murphy's legislative proposal to require all police officers to be certified with a professional license in order to practice, which he announced on Wednesday. The bill now advances to the Senate floor.   A message from the NJ Board of Public Utilities: New Jersey is on its way toward its goal of 100% clean energy by 2050. And you can help. Find out how New Jersey's Clean Energy Program can help businesses save energy and money with commercial clean energy incentives. High-value incentives and rebates on energy efficient improvements and appliances are also available from your utility company. You'll be saving more than money—you'll be helping to make the Garden State the Greenest State. Visit njcleanenergy.com.   HAPPY THURSDAY AFTERNOON — Hi there, I'm Jonathan Custodio, your Playbook PM author. We're adding New Jersey political trivia to this newsletter and will shout out one person who correctly answers the question in the following day's edition. Shout out to New Jersey Apartment Association's David Brogan for correctly answering that former Gov. Christine Whitman's total vote margin in her 1993 victory was 26,093. \\ Today's question: In 1996, former President Bill Clinton became the first Democrat in how many years to win a majority of New Jersey's popular vote? Send your answers and tips to jcustodio@politico.com . We're here with the latest from Trenton and elsewhere as New Jersey moves ahead in the budget process and the Legislature conducts hearings on Gov. Phil Murphy's spending plan. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY KUHN APPROVED — The Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously approved Acting Corrections Commissioner Victoria Kuhn's nomination to the permanent post after a brief hearing in which lawmakers from both parties mostly praised her nearly yearlong tenure as interim head of the troubled department. "I sit on the New Jersey Women's Reentry Commission and the acting commissioner has been on every one of those calls since she was appointed to her position," Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Passaic) said. "I think that speaks volumes. I can't say that for her predecessor, but I certainly give her credit." Kuhn served as chief of staff to former Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks, who resigned in June 2021 in the wake of a scathing independent report by former Comptroller Matt Boxer spurred by violent cell extractions at the Edna Mahan women's prison in Hunterdon County. — Matt Friedman COVID NUMBERS — The high case counts continue as New Jersey today reported 4,835 confirmed positive Covid-19 tests and nine deaths from the virus. The state's seven-day average is up 26 percent from a week ago and 138 percent from a month ago. ON THE BEATS OH SNAP — A collection of bills aimed at tackling food insecurity advanced through the Assembly Appropriations Committee today. Spearhead by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, the legislative package had successfully advanced through the Assembly Food and Agriculture Committee in February. Major provisions include a requirement to offer free school breakfast and lunches to students from working-class families, streamlining the SNAP application process and establishing a call center, and making participation in the state's SNAP employment and training program voluntary.   A message from the NJ Board of Public Utilities:   Around New Jersey "Abortion-rights rally by students at N.J. school turns into clash of shoving, cursing," by NJ.com's Kevin Shea: "An abortion-rights rally led by students at Hunterdon Central Regional High School on Monday ended with teens screaming at each other, tearing down signs and at times pushing and shoving, according to the district and a video of the incident. "The event was planned by students over social media and not sanctioned by the school, the district said. Students who gathered near an athletic field during the school day to rally for abortion rights were met by students who oppose abortion and the clash turned physical at times." "Low turnout across state in May 10 municipal elections," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "With the exception of Ocean City and Union City, voter turnout in the May 10 non-partisan municipal elections was dismal, with more than 80 percent of registered voters not participating in eight of the towns that had non-partisan elections, according to a turnout analysis by the New Jersey Globe. "In New Jersey's largest city, Newark, just 11.1 percent of voters showed up in a contested, albeit uncompetitive, race for mayor and four ward council seats. "Paterson, the state's third-largest city, drew a 19.6 percent turnout to elect a mayor and three at-large city council members. Turnout in Bayonne, where a two-term mayor avoided a runoff election by a mere 93 votes, just 23.7 percent of voters turned out." "More COVID-19 cases, more hospitalizations coming, state models predict," by NJ Spotlight News' Lilo H Stainton: "COVID-19 will continue to infect and hospitalize a growing number of New Jerseyans well into July, according to the state's latest predictions, but the level of severe disease — and likely death — is expected to remain fairly stable all summer. "While some experts see that potential stability as a positive sign, others worry people are becoming complacent in their pandemic response, particularly given the rising cases and the likelihood of more deaths." Odds and ends — Unbearable: A bear was tranquilized after spending several hours in a Passaic County tree. — Gold-flecked ramen anyone? More new restaurants are popping up in North Jersey. — New Jersey schools are adopting more cultural holidays.   A message from the NJ Board of Public Utilities: New Jersey is at the forefront of the clean energy revolution. Thanks to the enthusiastic participation of businesses, residents, local government, and many others across the state, New Jersey is well on its way toward reaching Governor Phil Murphy's ambitious goal of 100% clean energy by 2050. But there is still more to be done. Find out how New Jersey's Clean Energy Program can help you save energy and money. Visit njcleanenergy.com to learn about the available commercial and residential clean energy incentives, local government energy audits, and ways to save with high-value incentives and rebates from your local utility company on energy efficient improvements and appliances. You'll be doing a lot more than saving money on your energy bills—you'll be helping to make New Jersey the greenest state on the planet. Start saving right away—visit njcleanenergy.com today!     Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  California Playbook PM  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  New York Playbook PM View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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