The Privacy Protection Act seeks to strengthen the safeguarding of personal information collected by government entities and healthcare facilities in New Jersey. It prohibits these entities from requesting or collecting sensitive information such as immigration status, place of birth, social security numbers, and taxpayer identification numbers unless it is essential for determining eligibility for public services. Furthermore, any records obtained under these provisions will not be classified as governmental records under the Open Public Records Act and can only be disclosed under specific conditions, including legal requirements or with the individual's written consent.

In addition to these protections, the bill mandates that government entities and healthcare facilities retain personal information only for the necessary duration and requires them to update their confidentiality policies accordingly. It also introduces stricter regulations on the disclosure of motor vehicle records, necessitating informed consent or a legal order for such disclosures. The act includes provisions for injunctive relief and civil liability for misuse of collected information, emphasizing the importance of protecting personal data and ensuring individuals can access essential services without the risk of unauthorized data sharing.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39:2-3.4