This bill proposes to extend the office of the right-to-know ombudsman, along with its associated complaint process, appeal mechanisms, enforcement, and rulemaking, for an additional two years. Specifically, it amends the current law by changing the repeal date from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2027. The bill also clarifies that the remainder of the act will take effect on July 1, 2022, and establishes that the act itself will take effect on June 30, 2025.

The fiscal impact of this extension includes estimated expenditures of $170,706 for FY 2026 and $175,948 for FY 2027, with no additional costs anticipated for FY 2025 or FY 2028. The bill introduces a $25 filing fee for complaints submitted to the Ombudsman’s Office, while appeals to the Superior Court will not incur any fees. This change may lead to an indeterminable revenue loss for the Superior Court due to the reduced filing fees, as complaints that would typically be filed in court can now be submitted to the Ombudsman without a fee. Overall, the bill aims to maintain the functions of the right-to-know ombudsman while adjusting the financial structure surrounding its operations.