The Privacy Protection Act aims to strengthen the privacy rights of individuals in New Jersey by imposing regulations on how government entities and health care facilities handle personal information. The bill stipulates that government entities are prohibited from requesting or collecting information regarding a person's immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, social security number, or taxpayer identification number unless it is necessary for public services or mandated by law. Additionally, it clarifies that records related to these personal details will not be classified as governmental records under the Open Public Records Act, with exceptions for federal or state law requirements, judicial orders, or written consent from the individual.

Moreover, the act places strict limitations on the sharing of automated license plate recognition information, permitting it only under specific conditions such as valid judicial orders or law enforcement purposes, while explicitly prohibiting its use for civil immigration enforcement. Health care facilities are similarly restricted from collecting personal information unless essential for health care delivery. The bill mandates that any disclosure of personal information requires written consent from the individual and obligates government entities to notify individuals of any disclosures made under judicial orders or warrants. It also amends existing laws regarding the use and disclosure of personal information from motor vehicle records, emphasizing that such information should not be published or used to contact individuals without their consent. A provision is included to prevent the disclosure of personal information to law enforcement for immigration enforcement purposes without informed consent or a judicial warrant, and the act contains a severability clause to ensure the enforceability of remaining provisions if any part is deemed unconstitutional.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39:2-3.4
Advance Law: 39:2-3.4
Pamphlet Law: 39:2-3.4