This bill establishes strict regulations on the disclosure of personally identifiable autism-related data by State agencies in New Jersey. It prohibits these agencies from sharing such data with any external entity unless specific conditions are met, including obtaining informed, written consent from the individual or their legal guardian, compliance with a court order, provision of essential services to the individual, or adherence to State or federal law. Furthermore, any disclosures must be limited to the minimum necessary information and should be anonymized whenever possible to protect privacy.
Additionally, the bill provides definitions for key terms, specifically "autism-related data," which refers to information that identifies an individual as autistic, and "informed consent," which is defined as the voluntary, written authorization given after a clear explanation of the data's use and implications. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.