reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27E-75 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27E-75 - Access to client records, files by designated agencies.

52:27E-75 Access to client records, files by designated agencies.  37. Any agency designated by the Governor to serve as the State's protection and advocacy agency for the mentally ill and for the developmentally disabled shall have the same access to client records and files, to agency records and to the premises of State or private institutions as the Division of Mental Health Advocacy in the Office of the Public Defender. The intent of this section is that any private protection and advocacy agency designated by the Governor have all of the powers necessary to carry out its responsibilities as required to qualify for federal funding as the protection and advocacy agency.  L.1994, c.58, s.37; amended 2010, c.34, s.19.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27E-76 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27E-76 - Public Defender's actions

52:27E-76. Public Defender's actions  65. Any action brought by the Public Defender or any persons authorized herein to institute or participate in actions before the courts or agencies of this State shall be brought in the name of the person serving as the Public Defender or in the name of an affected individual or group, but shall not be brought in the name of the State or the people thereof.  L.1994,c.58,s.65.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27E-77 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27E-77 - Rights, terms preserved

52:27E-77. Rights, terms preserved  66. This act shall not: a. affect the tenure, compensation, and pension rights, if any, of the lawful holder thereof, in any position not specifically abolished herein, upon the effective date of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.);  b. alter the term of any member of any board, commission, or public body, not specifically abolished herein, lawfully in office on the effective date of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.), or require the reappointment thereof.  L.1994,c.58,s.66.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27E-78 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27E-78 - No new causes of action

52:27E-78. No new causes of action  67. The provisions of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.) in and of themselves shall not be construed so as to create any new causes of action, or to authorize any suit against the Legislature or either House or the officers thereof.  L.1994,c.58,s.67.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27E-80 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27E-80 - Severability

52:27E-80. Severability  69. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.) is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.), but shall be confined in its effect to the section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.) directly involved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been rendered.  L.1994,c.58,s.69.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-12 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-12 - Definitions.

52:27EE-12 Definitions.  12. Definitions. As used in sections 27, 32, 33, 48, 50, 51 and 64 of P.L.2005, c.155 (C.52:27EE-27, C.52:27EE-32, C.52:27EE-33, C.52:27EE-48, C.52:27EE-50, C.52:27EE-51 and C.52:27EE-64): "consumer insurance rate increases" means prior approval rate increases for: personal lines property casualty coverages; Medicare supplemental coverages; or a rating system change pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1997, c.151 (C.17:29A-46.1 et seq.); "correctional facility" means a jail, prison, lockup, penitentiary, reformatory, training school, or other similar facility within the State of New Jersey; "elderly" means a person age 60 years or older; "facility" whenever referred to in section 64 of P.L.2005, c.155 (C.52:27EE-64), means any facility or institution, whether public or private, offering health or health related services for the institutionalized elderly, and which is subject to regulation, visitation, inspection, or supervision by any government agency. Facilities include, but are not limited to, nursing homes, skilled nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, extended care facilities, convalescent homes, rehabilitation centers, residential health care facilities, special hospitals, veterans' hospitals, chronic disease hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, mental hospitals, developmental centers or facilities, day care facilities for the elderly, and medical day care centers; "indigent mental hospital admittee" means a person who has been admitted to and is a patient in a mental hospital, an institution for the care and treatment of persons with mental illness, or a similar facility, whether public or private, State, county or local, or who is the subject of an action for admission as provided by P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.1 et seq.) and who does not have the financial ability to secure competent representation and to provide all other necessary expenses of representation; "institutionalized elderly" means any person 60 years of age or older, who is a patient, resident or client of any facility, as described herein; "public interest" means an interest or right arising from the Constitution, decisions of court, common law or other laws of the United States or of this State inhering in the citizens of this State or in a broad class of such citizens. L.2005, c.155, s.12; amended 2010, c.34, s.20; 2010, c.50, s.78.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-21 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-21 - Dispute settlement office; established.

52:27EE-21 Dispute settlement office; established.  21. Dispute Settlement Office; established. There is hereby established in the Office of the Public Defender the Dispute Settlement Office.  L.2005, c.155, s.21; amended 2010, c.34, s.21.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-22 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-22 - Dispute settlement office; services.

52:27EE-22 Dispute settlement office; services.  22. Dispute Settlement Office; services. a. The Dispute Settlement Office may provide, in the discretion of the Public Defender, mediation and other third party neutral services in the resolution of disputes which involve the public interest and may enter into agreements or contracts to carry out any of the purposes or functions of this section. The office may assist public or private parties in resolving disputes. The office is authorized to: (1) facilitate the resolution of disputes through the provision of mediation and other neutral dispute resolution services;  (2) establish standards for the selection, assignment, and conduct of persons acting on behalf of the office in the resolution of disputes; (3) conduct educational programs and provide other services designed to reduce the occurrence, magnitude, or cost of disputes; (4) design, develop, or operate dispute resolution programs, or assist in improving or extending existing dispute resolution programs;  (5) work with the business ombudsman or advocate in the New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission and take such other action as will promote and facilitate dispute resolution in the State; and  (6) coordinate and cooperate with the Office of Administrative Law so as to avoid duplication of effort and to facilitate alternate resolution of disputes that would otherwise require administrative hearings.  b. The Public Defender may establish reasonable fees to be charged to public or private parties for the provision of the educational, consultation, dispute resolution, or other services authorized herein and may apply for and accept on behalf of the State any federal, local, or private grants, bequests, gifts, or contributions to aid in the financing of any of the programs or activities of the office. The Public Defender in the name of the State shall do all that is necessary and proper to receive or to collect all moneys due to the State, including such fees, grants, bequests, gifts, or contributions, by or reimbursement for services rendered pursuant to this section.  L.2005, c.155, s.22; amended 2010, c.34, s.22.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-23 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-23 - Dispute settlement office; transfer of functions.

52:27EE-23 Dispute settlement office; transfer of functions.  23. Dispute Settlement Office; transfer of functions. All functions, powers and duties which had been vested in the Office of Dispute Settlement in the Division of Citizen Relations in the Department of the Public Advocate are hereby transferred to and assumed by the Dispute Settlement Office of the Office of the Public Defender.  Whenever in any law, rule, regulation, order, reorganization plan, contract, document, judicial or administrative proceeding or otherwise, reference is made to the Dispute Settlement Office in the Department of the Public Advocate, the same shall mean and refer to the Dispute Settlement Office in the Office of the Public Defender. L.2005, c.155, s.23; amended 2010, c.34, s.23.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-27 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-27 - Corrections Ombudsperson; jurisdiction.

52:27EE-27 Corrections Ombudsperson; jurisdiction.  27. Corrections Ombudsperson; jurisdiction. Any person, over the age of 18 years, who is convicted of a crime under the laws of the State of New Jersey and sentenced to a correctional facility for more than 364 days is a "State-sentenced" inmate and considered to be among the individuals who may properly seek redress from the Corrections Ombudsperson concerning the conditions of their confinement. L.2005,c.155,s.27.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-28.4 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-28.4 - Correspondence, communication confidential, protected.

52:27EE-28.4 Correspondence, communication confidential, protected.  11. Correspondence and communication with the corrections ombudsperson shall be confidential and protected as privileged correspondence in the same manner as legal correspondence or communication. a. The ombudsperson shall establish confidentiality rules and procedures for all information maintained by the office. b. The ombudsperson shall treat all matters under investigation, including the identities of recipients of ombudsperson services, complainants, and persons from whom information is acquired, as confidential, except as far as disclosures may be necessary to enable the ombudsperson to perform the duties of the office and to support any recommendations resulting from an investigation. Upon receipt of information that, by law, is confidential or privileged, the ombudsperson shall maintain the confidentiality of the information and shall not further disclose or disseminate the information except as provided by applicable federal or State law or as authorized by this section.  c. To the extent the ombudsperson reasonably believes necessary, the ombudsperson: (1) shall reveal information obtained in the course of providing services to prevent reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm; and (2) may reveal information obtained in the course of providing ombudsperson services to prevent the commission of a crime. d. If the ombudsperson believes it is necessary to reveal investigative records pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the ombudsperson shall provide a copy of what is intended to be disclosed to the department for review and application of legal exemptions prior to releasing the records to any other person. If the ombudsperson personally receives identifying information concerning a member of the corrections staff during the course of an investigation that the ombudsperson determines is unrelated or unnecessary to the subject of the investigation or recommendation for action, the ombudsperson shall not further disclose the information. If the ombudsperson determines that the disclosure is necessary to an investigation or recommendation, the ombudsperson shall contact the staff member, as well as the bargaining unit representative before any disclosure. L.2019, c.288, s.11.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-28.5 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-28.5 - Prohibited actions.

52:27EE-28.5 Prohibited actions.  12. A civil action shall not be brought against any employee of the Office of the Ombudsperson for the good faith performance of responsibilities under P.L.2019, c.288. a. A discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory action shall not be taken against a department employee, subcontractor, or volunteer, an inmate, or a family member or representative of an inmate for any communication made, or information given or disclosed, to aid the office in carrying out its responsibilities, unless the communication or information is made, given, or disclosed maliciously or without good faith. b. This section is not intended to infringe on the rights of an employer to supervise, discipline, or terminate an employee for other reasons.  L.2019, c.288, s.12.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-28.6 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-28.6 - Advisory board.

52:27EE-28.6 Advisory board.  13. An advisory board shall be established to advise the Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson. The Governor shall appoint three positions, the President of the Senate shall appoint three positions, and the Speaker of the General Assembly shall appoint three positions. The advisory board shall designate positions for representatives of the following areas of expertise: investigations, health care, sexual assault victims' advocacy, social work, occupational safety and health, and research and data analysis. At least one position on the advisory board shall be filled by a family member of an inmate or by a formerly incarcerated person.  L.2019, c.288, s.13.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-29 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-29 - Division of Mental Health Advocacy; established.

52:27EE-29 Division of Mental Health Advocacy; established.  29. Division of Mental Health Advocacy; established. a. There is hereby established in the Office of the Public Defender a Division of Mental Health Advocacy to be under the supervision of the Director of the Division of Mental Health Advocacy.  b. The division is hereby designated as the State's mental health protection and advocacy agency. The division shall have all the powers necessary to carry out its responsibilities as required to qualify for federal funding as the State protection and advocacy agency.  L.2005, c.155, s.29; amended 2010, c.34, s.25.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-30 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-30 - Division of Mental Health Advocacy; objective; duties.

52:27EE-30 Division of Mental Health Advocacy; objective; duties.  30. Division of Mental Health Advocacy; objective; duties. a. The Division of Mental Health Advocacy shall promote, advocate, and ensure the adequacy of the care received, and the quality of life experienced, by persons with mental illness, including patients, residents, and clients within the mental health facilities and programs operated, funded, or licensed by the State. In determining what elements are essential to ensure adequate care and quality of life, the division shall consider the unique medical, social, and economic needs and problems of persons with mental illness as patients, residents, and clients of facilities and as citizens and community members.  b. The director shall establish and implement procedures to elicit, receive, process, respond, and resolve complaints from patients, their families, other interested citizens, public officials, and government agencies concerning conditions in the State's mental health facilities. L.2005,c.155,s.30.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-31 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-31 - Division of Mental Health Advocacy; class actions.

52:27EE-31 Division of Mental Health Advocacy; class actions.  31. Division of Mental Health Advocacy; class actions. The Director of the Division of Mental Health Advocacy may represent, with the approval of the Public Defender, the interests of indigent mental hospital admittees in such disputes and litigation as will, in the discretion of the Public Defender, best advance the interests of indigent mental hospital admittees as a class on an issue of general application to them, and may act as representative of indigent mental hospital admittees with any principal department or other instrumentality of State, county or local government. L.2005, c.155, s.31; amended 2010, c.34, s.26.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-32 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-32 - Division of Mental Health Advocacy; legal representation; medical consultation.

52:27EE-32 Division of Mental Health Advocacy; legal representation; medical consultation.  32. Division of Mental Health Advocacy; legal representation; medical consultation. The Division of Mental Health Advocacy may provide such legal representation and medical consultation as the director deems appropriate for any indigent mental hospital admittee in any proceeding concerning the admittee's admission to, and retention in, or release from confinement in such a hospital, institution or facility. L.2005,c.155,s.32.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-33 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-33 - Division of Mental Health Advocacy; eligibility for services.

52:27EE-33 Division of Mental Health Advocacy; eligibility for services.  33. Division of Mental Health Advocacy; eligibility for services. Eligibility for mental health advocacy services shall be determined on the basis of the need of the client. Need shall be measured according to the financial ability of the client to engage and compensate competent private counsel and to provide all other necessary expenses of representation. Such ability shall be recognized to be a variable depending on the nature, extent and liquidity of assets and on the disposable net income of the client as compared with the nature of the case, the effort and skill required to gather pertinent information, render advice, conduct trial or render other legal services, and probable expenses to be incurred. In the event that a determination of eligibility cannot be made before the time when the first services are to be rendered, or if an initial determination is found to be erroneous, the division shall undertake the same provisionally, and if it is determined subsequently that the client is ineligible, the division shall so inform the client, and the client shall thereupon, with the approval of the court, be obliged to engage his or her own counsel and to reimburse the division for the cost of the services rendered to that time. L.2005,c.155,s.33.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-34 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-34 - Division of Mental Health Advocacy; financial status of client; investigation.

52:27EE-34 Division of Mental Health Advocacy; financial status of client; investigation.  34. Division of Mental Health Advocacy; financial status of client; investigation. The Division of Mental Health Advocacy shall make such investigation of the financial status of each mental health client as the circumstances warrant. The division, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Office of the Public Defender for this purpose, may obtain information from any public record, office of the State or of any subdivision or agency thereof on request and without payment of the fees ordinarily required by law. L.2005, c.155, s.34; amended 2010, c.34, s.27.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-35 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-35 - Division of Mental Health Advocacy; staff.

52:27EE-35 Division of Mental Health Advocacy; staff.  35. Division of Mental Health Advocacy; staff. a. The Director of the Division of Mental Health Advocacy may employ, with the approval of the Public Defender, such assistants on a full-time basis as are necessary to protect the rights of persons with mental illness. When exceptional circumstances arise, the director may retain, with the approval of the Public Defender, on a temporary basis such other expert assistants as are necessary pursuant to a reasonable fee schedule established in advance by the Public Defender. b. Cases shall be assigned to staff attorneys or attorneys hired by case on a basis calculated to provide competent representation in light of the nature of the case, the services to be performed, the experience of the particular attorney and other relevant factors.  c. Employees of the Division of Mental Health Advocacy in the Department of the Public Advocate who are client services representatives or patient advocates for the mentally ill providing patient advocacy services in State or county facilities that provide inpatient care, supervision and treatment for persons with mental illness, including psychiatric facilities, and the functions of such employees, are hereby transferred to the Office of the Public Defender to be employees thereof. The Public Defender through the Division of Mental Health Advocacy shall employ such persons and continue such functions in the manner the Public Defender and the director of the division shall deem appropriate and necessary. These employees shall report to the division director and the Public Defender. L.2005, c.155, s.35; amended 2010, c.34, s.28.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-36 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-36 - Division of Mental Health Advocacy; status of staff.

52:27EE-36 Division of Mental Health Advocacy; status of staff.  36. Division of Mental Health Advocacy; status of staff. Independent contractors or other individuals, agencies, or entities not established in or employed by the Office of the Public Defender retained to provide protection and advocacy services to indigent mental hospital admittees, or designated to provide mental health protection and advocacy services, are not public entities or public employees for purposes of the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act," N.J.S.59:1-1 et seq. L.2005, c.155, s.36; amended 2010, c.34, s.29.
NJ Rev Stat § 52:27EE-37 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers|Section 52:27EE-37 - Division of Mental Health Advocacy; transfer of functions.

52:27EE-37 Division of Mental Health Advocacy; transfer of functions.  37. Division of Mental Health Advocacy; transfer of functions. All functions, powers, and duties which had been vested in the Division of Mental Health Advocacy in the Department of the Public Advocate are hereby transferred to and assumed by the Division of Mental Health Advocacy in the Office of the Public Defender.  Whenever, in any law, rule, regulation, order, reorganization plan, contract, document, judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise, reference is made to the Division of Mental Health Advocacy in the Department of the Public Advocate, the same shall mean and refer to the Division of Mental Health Advocacy in the Office of the Public Defender. L.2005, c.155, s.37; amended 2010, c.34, s.30.