Bill > A2816

Introduced Session

The Government Records Council (GRC) adjudicates certain complaints under the law commonly referred to as the open public records act. Concerns have been raised that the GRC does not process complaints in a timely manner. Additional staff attorneys could assist in the handling of complaints, helping to alleviate the GRC's backlog. Under current law, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) oversees the staffing and budget for the GRC. Requests by the GRC for additional funds to hire staff attorneys have gone unanswered. This bill expressly authorizes the GRC to employ additional staff attorneys exclusively to assist the council in handling complaints. The staff attorneys will receive, hear, review, and adjudicate complaints filed concerning a denial of access to a government record by a records custodian. The bill also requires the GRC to take into consideration whether it has sufficient resources to conduct its proceedings as expeditiously as possible when it prepares its recommended budget request for a State fiscal year. This bill is in response to a report by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) regarding the GRC and its review and adjudication of public records complaints. The OSC report expressed concern that the GRC does not process public records complaints in a timely manner, as well as concerns regarding the requirement that the GRC must go through the DCA to hire additional attorneys. This bill attempts to address those concerns and should help alleviate the backlog of GRC public records complaints.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Lou Greenwald (D)*,  Chris Tully (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document