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 enhancing legal services and advocacy for vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with developmental disabilities. The bill also transfers the Corrections Ombudsperson and the Dispute Settlement Office into the Division of Citizen Relations, emphasizing the importance of addressing citizen complaints and conducting public hearings.

Key amendments in the bill include the deletion of provisions that allowed the Division of Rate Counsel to assess vendors for costs incurred during public hearings, as well as changes to the public notice and hearing processes for proposed contracts. The legislation also establishes protections for client communications within the department, ensuring attorney-client privilege and confidentiality of client records. Overall, the bill aims to create a more efficient and effective framework for consumer advocacy in New Jersey, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and improved service delivery for at-risk populations. The act is set to take effect 180 days after its enactment.

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