The bill amends "Daniel's Law" to enhance protections for the personal identifying information of victim support advocates and victim support care providers. It expands the definition of "covered person" to include these individuals, thereby prohibiting the disclosure of their home addresses and unpublished telephone numbers. The bill establishes responsibilities for authorized persons to prevent such disclosures and sets penalties for violations, categorizing reckless violations as a crime of the fourth degree and purposeful violations as a crime of the third degree. Additionally, it ensures that the personal information of these advocates and providers is treated with the same confidentiality as that of judicial officers, law enforcement officers, and child protective investigators, including protections for their immediate family members.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new definitions related to personal identifying information and modifies existing laws regarding the disclosure of government records. It specifies that certain records, such as those related to public higher education research and student records, are privileged and confidential. The bill mandates that government records be made available on publicly accessible websites when feasible and outlines the process for requestors to obtain records. It establishes the Office of Information Privacy to oversee the redaction of home addresses for specific individuals, including law enforcement and judicial officers, and their families. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the safety of victim support professionals while ensuring transparency in government operations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:20-31.1, 47:1A-1.1, 47:1A-5, 47:1B-1, 47:1B-2, 56:8-166.1, 56:8-166.3