NJ A4203

Director of the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing must evaluate and report on law enforcement interactions with deaf and hard of hearing individuals within six months of enactment.

Evaluation covers existing laws, policies, and protocols governing law enforcement interactions; sign language training availability; de-escalation training; interpreter availability; treatment of deaf individuals in custody; and related complaints filed.

Director may request data from the Department of Law and Public Safety and any state or local law enforcement agency, which must promptly provide requested information.

Final report must describe current interaction practices, identify areas for improvement, and provide recommendations for executive, legislative, and administrative actions to improve law enforcement responsiveness and communication.

Report will be submitted to the Governor and Legislature, distributed to all law enforcement agencies statewide, and published on the Department of Human Services website; the act expires 30 days after report distribution.