reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-11 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-11 - Procedure for handling correspondence; written notice, information relative to rights, entitlements.

52:27G-11 Procedure for handling correspondence; written notice, information relative to rights, entitlements.  11. a. Any correspondence or written communication from any patient, resident, or client of a facility to the office shall, if delivered to or received by the facility, be promptly forwarded, unopened, by the facility to the office. Any correspondence or written communication from the office to any patient, resident, or client of a facility shall, if delivered to or received by the facility, be promptly forwarded, unopened, by the facility to such patient, resident, or client. b. The office shall prepare and distribute to each facility written notices, in English and Spanish, which set forth the address and telephone number of the office, a brief explanation of the function of the office, the procedure to follow in filing a complaint, and other pertinent information. The notice shall also indicate the option to call 9-1-1. The administrator of each facility shall ensure that such written notice is given to every patient, resident, or client or the patient's, resident's, or client's guardian upon admission to the facility and to every person already in residence or the person's guardian. The administrator shall also post such written notice in a conspicuous, public place in the facility in the number and manner set forth in the guidelines adopted by the office. c. The facility shall inform patients, residents, or clients, and their guardians, resident representatives, or families, of their rights and entitlements under State and federal laws and rules and regulations in a format and language that the recipient understands, by means of the distribution of educational materials as provided in subsection b. of this section. d. The office shall facilitate the filing of complaints with the office concerning matters within the authority of the office. The measures taken in connection therewith shall include, but need not be limited to, maintenance of a toll-free telephone, either by the office or in conjunction with another appropriate State agency, at least during regular working hours of the office for the filing of complaints. e. The administrator of each facility shall annually provide all caretakers, social workers, physicians, registered or licensed practical nurses, and other professionals and staff members employed at the facility with a notice explaining the requirements of section 2 of P.L.1983, c.43 (C.52:27G-7.1) concerning the reporting of suspected abuse or exploitation of an institutionalized elderly person, and require, as a condition of employment at the facility, that the employee acknowledge in writing receipt of the notice. The signed acknowledgement shall be retained in the employee's personnel file. L.1977, c.239, s.11; amended 2017, c.186, s.3.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-12 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-12 - Cooperation and assistance from government agencies

52:27G-12. Cooperation and assistance from government agencies  The office may request from any government agency, and said agency is hereby authorized and directed to provide, such cooperation and assistance, services and data as will enable the office properly to perform or exercise any of its functions, duties and powers under the provisions of this act. L.1977, c. 239, s. 12, eff. Sept. 29, 1977.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-13 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-13 - Confidentiality of information; exceptions; violations; penalty; privileged communications

52:27G-13. Confidentiality of information; exceptions; violations; penalty; privileged communications  a. The office shall maintain confidentiality with respect to all matters in relation to any complaint or investigation together with identities of the complainants, witnesses or patients, residents or clients involved, unless such persons authorize, in writing, the release of such information, except for such disclosures as may be necessary to enable the office to perform its duties and to support any opinions or recommendations that may result from a complaint or investigation. The investigatory files of the office, including all complaints and responses of the office to complaints, shall be maintained as confidential information. Release of pertinent records shall be at the discretion of the ombudsman. Nothing herein contained shall preclude the use by the office of material in its files, otherwise confidential, for the preparation and disclosure of statistical, case study and other pertinent data, provided that in any such use there shall be no disclosure of the identity or the means for discovering the identity of particular persons. b. Any person conducting or participating in any examination of a complaint or an investigation who shall disclose to any person other than the office, or those authorized by the ombudsman to receive it, the name of any witness examined, or any information obtained or given upon such examination or investigation is a disorderly person. c. Any statement or communication made by the office relevant to a complaint received by, proceedings before, or investigative activities of, the office, and any complaint or information made or provided in good faith by any person, shall be absolutely privileged and such privilege shall be a complete defense in any action which shall allege libel or slander. d. The office shall not be required to testify in any court with respect to matters held to be confidential in this section except as the court may deem necessary to enforce the provisions of this act. L.1977, c. 239, s. 13, eff. Sept. 29, 1977.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-14 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-14 - No reprisals

52:27G-14. No reprisals  a. No discriminatory, disciplinary or retaliatory action shall be taken against any officer or employee of a facility or government agency by such facility or government agency or against any patient, resident, or client of a facility or guardian or family member thereof, or volunteer, for any communication by him with the office or for any information given or disclosed by him in good faith to aid the office in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates the provisions of this subsection by instituting discriminatory, disciplinary or retaliatory action against any officer or employee of a facility or government agency or against any patient, resident or client of a facility or guardian or family member thereof, or volunteer, for any communication by him with the office or for any information given or disclosed by him in good faith to aid the office in carrying out its duties and responsibilities is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.  b. Any person who willfully hinders the lawful actions of the office or willfully refuses to comply with its lawful demands, including the demand of immediate entry into and inspection of a facility or government agency or the demand of immediate access to a patient, resident or client thereof, or who offers any compensation, gratuity, or promise thereof to the office in an effort to affect the outcome of any matter which is being investigated, or is likely to be investigated shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $5,000.00. Such penalty shall be collected and enforced by summary proceedings pursuant to "the penalty enforcement law" (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.) upon complaint of the office or any other person. Each violation of this act shall constitute a separate offense.  c. The office may bring suit in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any of the powers enumerated in this act.  d. When a person has been penalized under this section, a letter making note of the penalty shall immediately be sent by the court to the licensing authority or the professional board, if any, having jurisdiction over the person who has been penalized.  L. 1977, c. 239, s.14; amended by L. 1987, c. 104, s. 1.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-15 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-15 - Review of office by legislature

52:27G-15. Review of office by legislature  The Legislature through the Senate and Assembly Standing Committees on Institutions, Health and Welfare, or such other committee or committees as may be designated from time to time by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the General Assembly, respectively shall review, on a continuous basis, the development, administration and operation of the office provided for in this act. To facilitate this review and oversight, the office shall submit to the committees the reports required by this act, and such other reports as shall be called for by the committees from time to time. L.1977, c. 239, s. 15, eff. Sept. 29, 1977.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-16 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-16 - Severability

52:27G-16. Severability  If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this act, but shall be confined in its effect to the section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this act directly involved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been rendered. L.1977, c. 239, s. 16, eff. Sept. 29, 1977.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-20 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-20 - Short title

52:27G-20. Short title  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Public Guardian for Elderly Adults Act."  L. 1985, c. 298, s. 1.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-21 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-21 - Findings, declarations.

52:27G-21 Findings, declarations.  2. The Legislature finds and declares that private guardianship for an elderly adult who is incapacitated may not be feasible where there are no willing and responsible family members or friends to serve as guardian, that P.L.1985, c.298 (C.52:27G-20 et seq.)establishes a public guardianship program for elderly adults for the purpose of furnishing guardianship services to elderly persons at reduced or no cost when appropriate, and that P.L.1985, c.298 intends to promote the general welfare by establishing a public guardianship system that permits elderly persons to determinatively participate as fully as possible in all decisions that affect them.  L.1985, c.298, s.2; amended 1989, c.248, s.1; 2013, c.103, s.131.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-22 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-22 - Definitions

52:27G-22. Definitions  As used in this act:  a. "Court" means the Superior Court.  b. "Elderly adult" means a person aged 60 years or older.  L. 1985, c. 298, s. 3.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-23 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-23 - Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults.

52:27G-23 Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults.  4. There is created in the Executive Branch of the State Government the Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults. For the purpose of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults is allocated to the Department of Human Services, but notwithstanding this allocation, the office shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or any board or officer thereof.  L.1985, c.298, s.4; amended 2012, c.17, s.428.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-24 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-24 - Appointment of public guardian

52:27G-24. Appointment of public guardian  The administrator and chief executive officer of the office is the public guardian, who shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The public guardian shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office and until the appointment and qualification of the public guardian's successor. The public guardian shall devote his entire time to the duties of the position and shall receive a salary as determined by law. Any vacancy occurring in the position of the public guardian shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment; except that if the public guardian dies, resigns, becomes ineligible to serve for any reason, or is removed from office, the Governor shall appoint an acting public guardian, who shall serve until the appointment and qualification of the public guardian's successor, but in no event longer than six months from the occurrence of the vacancy, and who shall exercise during this period all the powers and duties of the public guardian pursuant to the provisions of this act.  L. 1985, c. 298, s. 5.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-25.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-25.1 - Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults, duties

52:27G-25.1. Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults, duties  27. The Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults shall conform and implement procedures necessary to comply with the requirements of P.L.1991, c.201 (C.26:2H-53 et al.), and shall make a written statement of its obligations under that act available to the public.  L.1991,c.201,s.27.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-26 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-26 - Eligibility for services; petition for appointment by person with responsibility for eligible elderly person; limitation of powers in order

52:27G-26. Eligibility for services; petition for appointment by person with responsibility for eligible elderly person; limitation of powers in order  Any elderly person residing in the State who may be found by a court to require a guardian or conservator, pursuant to the provisions of Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes, and who does not have a willing and responsible family member or friend to serve as guardian is eligible for the services of the public guardian. However, the public guardian shall not be appointed for the sole reason that the proposed ward relies upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone in lieu of medical treatment, in accordance with the ward's religious tenets and practices.  In addition to the classes of persons entitled pursuant to Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes, a county welfare agency, the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly, or any other agency, public or private, having a responsibility towards the eligible elderly person, may petition the court to have the public guardian appointed as guardian or conservator for the eligible elderly person with the powers and duties ordinarily conferred by law on guardians and conservators or for certain limited purposes described in the petition. If the petition requests that only limited powers be granted, the court shall incorporate these limitations into its order of appointment to the extent it deems appropriate. The court shall ensure beyond a reasonable doubt that the petition is not the product of mistake, fraud, or duress. The filing of the petition will not be the basis for any inference concerning the competence of the petitioner or for any loss of civil rights or benefits.  L.1985, c.298, s.7; amended 1989,c.248,s.3.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-27 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-27 - Administrative costs, commissions and fees of public guardian's services and costs of appointment procedure

52:27G-27. Administrative costs, commissions and fees of public guardian's services and costs of appointment procedure  a. If the public guardian is appointed guardian or conservator for an eligible elderly person, the administrative costs, commissions and fees of the public guardian's services and the costs incurred in the appointment procedure shall be charged against the income or the estate of the person pursuant to the provisions of Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes. The reasonable value of all the services rendered by the public guardian, including the costs incurred in the appointment procedure, less any amounts paid from the income of the person, shall be charged against the estate of the person in accordance with the provisions of section 6 of P.L.1989, c.248 (C.52:27G-27.1).  b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1989, c.248.) L.1985, c.298, s.8; amended 1989,c.248,s.4.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-27.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-27.1 - Lien on estate of elderly person for services of public guardian

52:27G-27.1. Lien on estate of elderly person for services of public guardian  a. The reasonable value of the services rendered by the public guardian may in all cases be a lien on the estate of the elderly person on whose behalf the services have been rendered, pursuant to a court order appointing the public guardian. This lien shall be deemed a preferred claim against the estate of the elderly person and shall have a priority as a debt under subsection c. of N.J.S.3B:22-2.  The lien may be filed against the real or personal property, or an interest or estate in property, whether vested or contingent, of a third party.  b. In order to effectuate a lien, the public guardian shall file a notice with the clerk of the Superior Court in the county in which the elderly person resides, setting forth the services rendered and the reasonable value thereof. Upon the filing of the notice, the lien shall immediately attach to, and become binding upon all of the property, whether real or personal, of the estate against whom the lien is filed.  (1) If the clerk finds that the estate against whom a lien is filed pursuant to this act is possessed of any goods, rights, credits, chattels, monies or effects which are held by a person, firm or corporation for the present or future use of the estate, the clerk shall forward notice of the lien by registered or certified mail to that person, firm or corporation; and the lien shall be binding upon those goods, rights, credits, chattels, monies or effects. Upon receipt of notice of the lien, the person, firm or corporation shall be precluded from disposing of those goods, rights, credits, chattels, monies or effects until the lien is satisfied or until the public guardian consents to that disposition.  A person, firm or corporation who disposes of those goods, rights, credits, chattels, monies or effects after receipt of notice of the lien is liable to the public guardian for the value of the goods, rights, credits, chattels, monies or effects disposed of, or the amount of the lien, whichever is less.  (2) The clerk shall provide suitable books in which he shall enter a lien filed pursuant to this act and shall properly index the lien in the name of the estate against whom the lien has been filed. The public guardian shall not be required to pay filing or recording fees.  c. The public guardian may compromise, settle or waive, in whole or in part, a lien filed pursuant to this act. The public guardian may discharge the lien by filing a certificate or warrant with the clerk of the Superior Court in the county in which the elderly person resides, notifying the clerk of the public guardian's desire to discharge the lien.  L.1989, c.248, s.6.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-28 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-28 - Consideration of ward's beliefs

52:27G-28. Consideration of ward's beliefs  The public guardian shall consider the religious and ethical beliefs of the ward when making decisions on the ward's behalf. The public guardian shall consider nonmedical remedial treatment in accordance with a recognized method of healing when this choice would be consistent with the beliefs held by the ward while competent.  L. 1985, c. 298, s. 9.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-29 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-29 - Grants of authority

52:27G-29. Grants of authority  a. If it is determined that the public guardian should be appointed for a proposed ward, the court shall enter an order that makes findings of fact on the basis of clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence supporting each grant of authority to the public guardian and that:  (1) Establishes whether the public guardian has authority over the person, or the property, or both person and property, of the ward;  (2) Establishes whether, and to what extent, the authority over person or property or both is partial; and  (3) Sets the term of appointment.  b. No grant of authority to the public guardian will be more than the least restrictive alternative warranted under the facts, and the public guardian shall employ the form of assistance that least interferes with the capacity of a ward to act in his own behalf.  c. There will be no liability by physicians for failure to obtain consent from a ward or proposed ward of the public guardian in an emergency that threatens death or serious bodily harm.  L. 1985, c. 298, s. 10.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-29.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-29.1 - Maximum caseload

52:27G-29.1. Maximum caseload  The public guardian shall determine the maximum caseload that the office can maintain based on the amount of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the office. When a maximum caseload is reached, the public guardian may decline appointment as guardian or conservator. The public guardian shall establish procedures for informing each of the assignment judges of the Superior Court when the office's maximum caseload has been reached, and when the office is able to accept additional cases.  L.1989, c.248, s.7.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-30 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-30 - Discharge by court; petition

52:27G-30. Discharge by court; petition  The public guardian may be discharged by a court with respect to any of the authority granted over each ward upon petition of the elderly person, any interested person, or the public guardian, or upon the court's own motion, when it appears that the services of the public guardian are no longer necessary, despite the fact that the individual has not been, and may never be, restored to competency.  L.1985, c.298, s.11; amended 1989,c.248,s.5.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27G-31 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27G-31 - Cost, fee waiver permitted

52:27G-31. Cost, fee waiver permitted  In any proceeding for appointment of a public guardian, or in any proceeding involving the estate of an eligible elderly person for whom a public guardian has been appointed conservator or guardian, the court may waive any court costs or filing fees.  L. 1985, c. 298, s. 12.