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Bill > A4241
NJ A4241
NJ A4241Makes 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
06/25/2018
06/25/2018
In Committee
06/25/2018
06/25/2018
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, 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 amends the "New Jersey Open Data Initiative" law, N.J.S.A.52:18A-234.1 et seq., to require that the State maintain certain State agency financial information on the open data website, and establishes 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. It further requires the Office of Information Technology to develop and maintain a searchable, online database to which units of local government may submit any government record for retention on the database.
AI Summary
This bill makes several key changes to New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA):
It renames OPRA as the "Martin O'Shea Open Public Records and Transparency Act" to honor a public access advocate. It expands and clarifies definitions, including defining "commercial purpose" and "quasi-governmental agency." It revises the composition and duties of the Government Records Council, requiring it to render decisions within 150 days and make its recommendations available online.
The bill also amends the "New Jersey Open Data Initiative" law to require state agencies to post certain financial information on the open data website, and establishes a program to provide advice and technical assistance to local governments that create searchable public finance websites. Finally, it appropriates up to $100,000 to implement the local website program.
Overall, the bill aims to enhance public access to government records and increase transparency around state and local government finances.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 06/25/2018)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| BillText | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A4500/4241_I1.HTM | 06/27/2018 |
| Bill | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A4500/4241_I1.PDF | 06/27/2018 |
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