The bill proposes significant amendments to New Jersey's laws governing access to government records, focusing on enhancing public access while protecting personal information. Key insertions include definitions for "commercial purpose" and "data broker," which clarify the use of government records for profit and the sale of personal information by businesses without direct consumer relationships. The bill mandates that public agencies safeguard personal information to prevent harassment and identity theft, and it exempts certain sensitive records, such as those related to child protective investigations and minors' personal identifying information, from public access. Additionally, it expands the list of confidential information and allocates $8 million for implementing these changes.

The legislation also introduces new procedures for requesting records, requiring requestors to certify their purpose and providing clearer timelines for custodians to respond. It modifies the structure of the Government Records Council, enhancing its authority to mediate disputes and impose civil penalties on agencies that unreasonably deny access to records. The bill prohibits data brokers from making records requests and establishes a Police Record Access Improvement Task Force. It appropriates $4 million from the State General Fund to support electronic accessibility of government records and ensures that the provisions apply retroactively to pending complaints. Overall, the bill aims to balance transparency with the protection of individual privacy rights.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 47:1A-1, 47:1A-1.1, 47:1A-5, 47:1A-6, 47:1A-7, 47:1A-11, 47:1B-2