On January 13, 2009, the “Security Officer Registration Act” (SORA) (S2477) was introduced, which would require any person who is employed as an in-house security officer to register with the Superintendant of State Police and to complete an education and training program. Under current law, only individuals employed by security officer companies that furnish security services to other entities must comply with certain registration requirements.
SORA also would require that in-house security officers be at least 18 years of age, and must not have been convicted of any of the following: (1) a crime in the first, second or third degree; (2) an offense involving unlawful use, possession, or sale of a controlled dangerous substance; (3) an offense where issuance of a license would be contrary to the public interest (as determined by the Superintendant of Police). Security officers and employers that violate the Act would be subject to penalties.
Note: This article was published in the February 2009 issue of the New Jersey eAuthority.
