New bill requires diversity training for NJ cops

TRENTON -- Lawmakers have sent a new version of a bill to Gov. Chris Christie that would require the state to develop cultural diversity training for law enforcement agencies in New Jersey, without making the training mandatory.

Christie vetoed a previous measure that would have required the training, noting that the legislation could have been viewed as an unconstitutional unfunded mandate.

Lawmakers approved the new measure Monday.

Christie says cultural diversity training helps promote interaction between police and the communities they serve.

But he said in his conditional veto in June that he was concerned that version of the bill would create more than 500 potentially inconsistent plans.

Christie suggested that lawmakers let the state develop or identity uniform training course materials.

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