The bill seeks to restore the Department of the Public Advocate as a principal department within New Jersey's Executive Branch, re-establishing its various divisions, including the Division of Administration, Division of Citizen Relations, Division of Mental Health Advocacy, Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled, Division of Rate Counsel, Division of Public Interest Advocacy, Division of Elder Advocacy, and the Office of the Child Advocate. The Public Advocate, appointed by the Governor, will oversee these divisions, which are tasked with advocating for vulnerable populations, investigating complaints, and representing public interests in regulatory matters. The bill also includes provisions for the Child Advocate to investigate allegations of child abuse, monitor juvenile facilities, and communicate directly with children involved in investigations.

Significant amendments in the bill include the transfer of the Corrections Ombudsperson and the Dispute Settlement Office into the Division of Citizen Relations, as well as the inclusion of the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman within the Division of Elder Advocacy. The legislation emphasizes the importance of confidentiality and the protection of sensitive information while allowing for necessary disclosures. It is set to take effect 180 days after enactment and repeals certain inconsistent laws to streamline operations within the Department. Overall, the bill aims to enhance consumer advocacy and oversight in New Jersey, ensuring that the needs of vulnerable populations are adequately addressed.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:4A-60, 9:6-8.76, 9:6-8.89, 17:29A-14, 17:29A-46.8, 30:1A-4, 30:1B-6.3, 30:4-3.25, 30:4C-69, 30:13-3, 46:8-21.1, 46:10B-28, 48:2-21.17, 48:2-21.24, 48:2-21.26, 48:2-21.28, 48:2-21.30, 48:2-21.34, 48:2-21.36, 48:3-87, 48:3-94, 52:14-15.107, 52:27EE-12, 52:27EE-21, 52:27EE-22, 52:27EE-23, 52:27EE-26, 52:27EE-29, 52:27EE-31, 52:27EE-34, 52:27EE-35, 52:27EE-36, 52:27EE-37, 52:27EE-46, 52:27EE-47, 52:27EE-48, 52:27EE-52, 52:27EE-53, 52:27EE-54, 52:27EE-61, 52:27EE-62, 52:27EE-63, 52:27EE-65, 52:27G-3, 52:27G-4, 56:12-12, 58:11-59, 58:26-5, 58:26-11, 58:26-12, 58:27-11, 58:27-12