The bill proposes significant amendments to New Jersey's laws governing access to government records, focusing on enhancing public access while protecting personal information. It introduces new definitions, such as "personal identifying information" and "data broker," and establishes specific categories of confidential information that are exempt from public access, including personal data of minors and sensitive public safety records. The bill mandates that custodians of records adopt standardized request forms, respond electronically when possible, and ensures that sensitive information is redacted before disclosure. Additionally, it prohibits data brokers from obtaining records and requires requestors to certify the purpose of their requests, particularly in relation to legal proceedings.

Moreover, the bill restructures the Government Records Council, increasing its public membership and enhancing its authority to mediate disputes and issue advisory opinions. It establishes clear timelines for responding to records requests and introduces penalties for public officials who violate access laws. The legislation also allocates $8 million to support the implementation of these changes, including funding for digitizing records and improving access. Overall, the bill aims to balance transparency in government operations with the need to protect individual privacy and sensitive information.

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