The bill establishes a new requirement for public agencies in New Jersey to redact handwritten signatures from any documents they post online, thereby enhancing privacy protections for individuals. Agencies must comply with this redaction requirement within seven business days of receiving a written request from an individual whose signature has been posted. However, the bill specifies that this requirement does not apply to signatures on petitions for elective office or ballot questions, nor to signatures of public officials on government records. Additionally, the bill amends existing law to classify handwritten signatures as personal identifying information that is confidential and not subject to public disclosure, while still allowing for disclosure when necessary to comply with other laws or for specific transactions.

Moreover, the bill introduces new definitions and provisions related to the handling of personal information in government records, particularly concerning public institutions of higher education. It emphasizes the need for custodians to redact sensitive information, such as social security numbers, before granting access to records. The bill also ensures that victims of crime can access their own records without incurring fees and mandates that public agencies provide records electronically when feasible. Overall, the legislation aims to balance the need for transparency in government records with the protection of sensitive personal information.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 47:1A-1.1, 47:1A-5