S 4258 — Establishes that Superintendent of State Police holds rank of Colonel of State Police; permits appointment of retirant without reenrollment in SPRS.

S4258 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

Senators DiegnanDiegnan, Gopal and GopalHenry         SYNOPSIS      Establishes that Superintendent of State Police holds rank of Colonel of State Police;

permits appointment of retirant without reenrollment in SPRS.    CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As introduced.reported by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee on May 21, 2026, with amendments.

       1.   1.  R.S.53:1-2 is amended to read as follows:

 TheThe Superintendent of State Police, hereinafter referred to as the superintendent, shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall serve during the term of office of the Governor appointing [him] the superintendent and until the superintendent's successor is appointed and has qualified and shall be removable by the Governor after charges have been preferred and a hearing granted.

     b.   b. The superintendent shall hold the uniformed rank of Colonel of the State Police and be entitled to wear the corresponding uniform.  The superintendent shall be granted all privileges and shall have all powers conferred upon members of the State Police pursuant to current law, including those set forth in R.S.53:2-1.

    The c.    superintendent Inshall order to hold the uniformed rank of colonel,Colonel of the superintendent shall complete, update, or renew any New Jersey State Police Academyand basicbe policeentitled officer certification required to holdwear the positioncorresponding ofuniform.  NewThe Jerseysuperintendent Stateshall Policebe Officergranted all privileges and shall applyhave forall andpowers obtainconferred anupon initialmembers orof renewalthe lawState enforcementPolice license pursuant to P.L.2022,current c.65law, (C.52:17B-71aincluding etthose al.).set forth in R.S.53:2-1.

     d.   c. The superintendent shall receive [such] a salary [as shall be provided by law] in the amount of $210,000 pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1974, c.55 (C.52:14-15.107), and shall, before entering upon the duties of [his] the office, give a bond to the State of New Jersey in the sum of [$20,000.00] $20,000 for the faithful performance of [his] the superintendent’s duties.

    In e.    order Theto hold the rank of colonel, the superintendent shall serve1[complete, asupdate, andor performrenew theany] dutiesbe a graduate of thethe1 New Jersey State DirectorPolice Academy 1[basic police officer certification required to hold the position of EmergencyNew Management.Jersey State Police Officer]1 and shall apply for and obtain an initial or renewal law enforcement license pursuant to P.L.2022, c.65 (C.52:17B-71a et al.) 1if the superintendent does not already hold an active license1.

(cf:  P.L.1971, c.105, s.2)        2.   d. (New section) Notwithstanding the provisions of the “State Police Retirement System Act,” P.L.1965, c.89 (C.53:5A-1 et seq.), or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a person who is a retirant of the State Police Retirement System shall be eligible for appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, as the Superintendent of State Police, and a retirant so appointed shall not be required to reenroll in the State Police Retirement System, provided that the retirement meets the requirement for a bona fide severance from employment and any employment or reemployment under this section shall not be prearranged before retirement, and provided further that the salary established by law for the Superintendent of State Police for a person who is a retirant of the system and who is not reenrolled in the system shall not be considered as compensation for retirement system purposes and shall not enhance the retirement allowance received by that person as a retirant of the system.       Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a person appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, as the Superintendent of State Police shall hold the rank of Colonel of the New Jersey State Police regardless of age or retirant status under the “State Police Retirement System Act,” P.L.1965, c.89 (C.53:5A-1 et seq.), provided that the person completed the requirements established pursuant to subsection c.

The superintendent shall receive [such] a salary [as shall be provided by law] 1[in the amount of $210,000 pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1974, c.55 (C.52:14-15.107)] as shall be provided by law1, and shall, before entering upon the duties of [his] the office, give a bond to the State of New Jersey in the sum of [$20,000.00] $20,000 for the faithful performance of [his] the superintendent’s duties.

     1[e.

The superintendent shall serve as and perform the duties of the State Director of Emergency Management.]1 (cf:

P.L.1971, c.105, s.2)        2.    (New section) Notwithstanding the provisions of the “State Police Retirement System Act,” P.L.1965, c.89 (C.53:5A-1 et seq.), or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a person who is a retirant of the State Police Retirement System shall be eligible for appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, as the Superintendent of State Police 1[, and a retirant so appointed shall not be required to reenroll in the State Police Retirement System, provided that the retirement meets the requirement for a bona fide severance from employment and any employment or reemployment under this section shall not be prearranged before retirement, and provided further that the salary established by law for the Superintendent of State Police for a person who is a retirant of the system and who is not reenrolled in the system shall not be considered as compensation for retirement system purposes and shall not enhance the retirement allowance received by that person as a retirant of the system.       Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a person appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, as the Superintendent of State Police] without reenrollment in the retirement system and1 shall 1be eligible to1 hold the rank of Colonel of the New Jersey State Police regardless of age or retirant status under the “State Police Retirement System Act,” P.L.1965, c.89 (C.53:5A-1 et seq.), provided that the person completed the requirements established pursuant to subsection c.

    STATEMENT        This bill establishes that the Superintendent of State Police is to hold the rank of Colonel of State Police and permits the appointment of a retirant without reenrollment in the State Police Retirement System (SPRS).

     Under the provisions of this bill, the superintendent is to hold the uniformed rank of Colonel of the State Police and is entitled to wear the corresponding uniform.  The bill grants the superintendent all privileges and powers conferred upon members of the State Police pursuant to current law.

     In addition, in order to hold the rank of colonel, the bill requires the superintendent to complete, update, or renew any New Jersey State Police Academy basic police officer certification required to hold the position of New Jersey State Police Officer and to apply for and obtain an initial or renewal law enforcement license pursuant to current law.

     In addition, the bill clarifies that the superintendent is to receive a salary in the amount of $210,000 pursuant to current law.  The bill also provides that the superintendent is to serve as and perform the duties of the State Director of Emergency Management.

     In addition, under the bill, notwithstanding the provisions of current law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a person who is a retirant of the SPRS is eligible for appointment as the Superintendent of State Police, and a retirant so appointed is not required to reenroll in the SPRS, provided that the retirement meets the requirement for a bona fide severance from employment and any employment or reemployment was not prearranged before retirement, and provided further that the salary established by law for the superintendent for a person who is a retirant of the system and who is not reenrolled in the system is not to be considered as compensation for retirement system purposes and is not to enhance the retirement allowance received by that person as a retirant of the system.       Finally, the bill provides that notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a person appointed as superintendent holds the rank of colonel regardless of age or retirant status under the “State Police Retirement System Act” provided that the person completes the requirements set forth under the bill and previously retired in good standing.