Bill
Bill > S107
NJ S107
NJ S107Makes certain access changes to open public records act; requires inclusion of certain State financial information on open data website; creates program for development of local websites; makes appropriation.*
summary
Introduced
01/09/2018
01/09/2018
In Committee
06/17/2019
06/17/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2020
01/08/2020
Introduced Session
2018-2019 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill revises the open public records act (OPRA). The bill formally names OPRA as the "Martin O'Shea Open Public Records Act" in honor of Martin O'Shea, a tireless advocate for broad public access to government records. The bill expands and clarifies various definitions and makes changes to the duties of record custodians and the Government Records Council. It also revises the composition of the Government Records Council and changes the council from being in the Department of Community Affairs to being in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs. It modifies the mediation process making the Office of Dispute Settlement in the Office of the Public Defender available to mediate disputes, changes the penalty provisions, and modifies access to the courts. It specifies that the fines imposed pursuant to OPRA cannot be paid out of public funds. The bill changes the membership of the Government Records Council to seven members. In addition, the bill requires the State to create a public finance website and establish the New Jersey Local Public Finance Internet Website Development Program to provide advice and technical assistance to units of local government that elect to create a searchable local public finance Internet website.
AI Summary
This bill makes several changes to New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA), including:
- Formally naming OPRA as the "Martin O'Shea Open Public Records and Transparency Act" to honor a public access advocate.
- Expanding and clarifying definitions, and revising the duties and composition of the Government Records Council.
- Modifying the mediation process and penalty provisions.
- Requiring the State to create a public finance website and establishing a program to provide technical assistance to local governments to create their own public finance websites.
- Appropriating funds to effectuate the local website program.
The bill aims to enhance transparency and access to government records in New Jersey.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading (on 06/17/2019)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| BillText | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S0500/107_R1.HTM | 06/16/2018 |
| Bill | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S0500/107_R1.PDF | 06/16/2018 |
| BillText | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S0500/107_I1.HTM | 01/12/2018 |
| Bill | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S0500/107_I1.PDF | 01/12/2018 |
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