reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-8 - Rerecording worn, mutilated or obscure records; reindexing; cost

47:1-8. Rerecording worn, mutilated or obscure records; reindexing; cost
47:1-8. Whenever any records of any deeds, mortgages or other instruments of record in the office of any clerk or register of deeds and mortgages of any county of this State are becoming worn out, mutilated, obliterated, obscured, or in such condition that by use the same would be likely to become entirely void, lost or unintelligible, and the title to lands or other property endangered, such clerk or register of deeds and mortgages shall, upon the order of any judge of the Superior Court, rerecord such records anew, in books to be kept in the office of such clerk or register of deeds and mortgages, which books shall be known as the book of "rerecorded deeds," or otherwise, in accordance with the types of instruments so rerecorded, shall be numbered and paged as were the old books, shall be certified by such clerk or register of deeds and mortgages, under his hand and seal, to be true copies of the original records, and shall be reindexed in the appropriate books of indexes of such recorded deeds, mortgages or instruments in such counties, being marked as reindexed. The expense of such rerecording shall be paid by the county in which the same is done, as the judge may determine and direct.
Amended 1953,c.45,s.3; 1991,c.91,s.467.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-9 - Restoration of worn maps in certain offices; expense

47:1-9. Restoration of worn maps in certain offices; expense
The clerks, registers of deeds and mortgages and surrogates of the several counties of this state may, whenever any of the maps on file in their respective offices shall, by public use, become so worn, torn or otherwise impaired as to be wholly or partly illegible, employ a competent person to copy, retrace, redraft or otherwise restore or make legible such maps, and reindex the same. The compensation of the person so employed shall be fixed and paid by the boards of chosen freeholders of the several counties, according to law.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-10 - Reference in warrants for cancellation or discharge of bonds or other discharges to book and page of original record

47:1-10. Reference in warrants for cancellation or discharge of bonds or other discharges to book and page of original record
All warrants for the cancellation or discharge of bonds, or any other discharges, filed in any county clerk's office in this state shall, in addition to the other requirements of law, have inserted therein the book and page where the bond is recorded; and the respective county clerks may refuse to cancel or satisfy any bond unless such book and page is inserted in such warrants.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-11 - Reproduction of public records, use as originals

47:1-11. Reproduction of public records, use as originals
5. Any public agency, the Secretary of State or the County Clerk, Register, or Surrogate of a county may copy, record, index or transcribe public records by means of photography, data processing, image processing, or other approved means, subject to compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated therefor by the Division of Archives and Records Management in the Department of State. Any document which is a data processed or image processed copy produced and stored in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated therefor by the division shall be considered a legal substitute for an original document.
L.1994,c.140,s.5.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-12 - Rules, regulations; systems of recording

47:1-12. Rules, regulations; systems of recording
6. a. The Division of Archives and Records Management in the Department of State, with the approval of the State Records Committee established pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1953, c.410 (C.47:3-20), shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act and to safeguard the State's documentary heritage.
b. No public agency, County Clerk or Register shall adopt, use or employ any system for recording, filing, registration or indexing as authorized by R.S.47:1-5, as amended by this act, unless the same shall conform to the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Division of Archives and Records Management in the Department of State pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and shall first be approved by the Division of Archives and Records Management. No such system shall be approved until the Division of Archives and Records Management shall have fully promulgated those rules and regulations.
c. Any system for recording, filing, registration or indexing as authorized by R.S. 47:1-5, as amended by this act, which employs data processing or image processing, and which was adopted, used or employed prior to the effective date of this act, shall nevertheless be subject to the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Division of Archives and Records Management pursuant to subsection a. of this section. The approval of the Division of Archives and Records Management shall be necessary to bring about the compliance of such systems, in a prompt and orderly fashion, with the standards set forth in the rules and regulations.
L.1994,c.140,s.6.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-13 - Alteration, correction, revision of records; notation

47:1-13. Alteration, correction, revision of records; notation
7. Whenever it shall be necessary to alter, correct or revise the record pertaining to any paper, document or instrument, or the index pertaining to the same, which shall previously have been recorded, filed, registered, or indexed, the officer responsible for maintaining such records or custodian thereof shall cause a notation to be made of the date and nature of the alteration, correction or revision, which notation shall become part of the record. The officer or custodian shall also preserve the record in its original form prior to alteration, correction or revision, and the same shall be available to any citizen of this State, pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.).
L.1994,c.140,s.7.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-14 - Destruction of public records under law

47:1-14. Destruction of public records under law
9. No official responsible for maintaining public records or the custodian thereof shall destroy, obliterate or dispose of any paper, document, instrument, or index which shall have been recorded, filed, registered or indexed except as specifically permitted by law. No law, statute or regulation shall be construed to permit the destruction, obliteration or disposal of any such records by implication.
L.1994,c.140,s.9.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-15 - References to Bureau of Archives and History

47:1-15. References to Bureau of Archives and History
10. Whenever in any law, rule, regulation, order, contract, document, judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise, reference is made to the Bureau of Archives and History in the Department of Education or the administrator thereof, the same shall be considered to mean and refer to the Division of Archives and Records Management in the Department of State, established pursuant to the Governor's Reorganization Plan, filed April 25, 1983.
L.1994,c.140,s.10.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-16 - Social security numbers, prohibition of display, printing on certain documents publicly recorded.

47:1-16 Social security numbers, prohibition of display, printing on certain documents publicly recorded.
1. a. No person, including any public or private entity, shall print or display in any manner an individual's Social Security number on any document intended for public recording with any county recording authority.
b. Whenever a document is presented for public recording with any county recording authority and that document displays a person's Social Security number, the recording authority shall delete, strike, obliterate or otherwise expunge that number prior to recording the document.
The fact that such a document is recorded without deleting, striking, obliterating or otherwise expunging that Social Security number shall not render the document invalid, void, voidable or in any way defective.
c. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to a document originating with any court or taxing authority, any document that when filed by law constitutes a non-consensual lien against an individual, any publicly recorded document that is required by law to contain a Social Security number, or any document filed with or recorded by a County Surrogate.
d. The county recording authority shall not be liable for any claims arising from a violation of this act.
L.2005,c.99,s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1-17 - Publishing of certain information by governmental agency prohibited.

47:1-17 Publishing of certain information by governmental agency prohibited.
2. Except as otherwise provided pursuant to sections 1 through 3 of P.L.2021, c.371 (C.47:1B-1 through C.47:1B-3), a State or local governmental agency shall not knowingly post, repost, publish, or republish on the Internet the home address of any covered person approved by the Office of Information Privacy pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2021, c.371 (C.47:1B-2), 31 days or more following such approval, unless the agency obtains the written permission of that person.
L.2015, c.226, s.2; amended 2020, c.125, s.4; 2021, c.24, s.3; 2021, c.371, s.7.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-1 - Legislative findings, declarations.

47:1A-1 Legislative findings, declarations.
1. The Legislature finds and declares it to be the public policy of this State that:
government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by the citizens of this State, with certain exceptions, for the protection of the public interest, and any limitations on the right of access accorded by P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) as amended and supplemented, shall be construed in favor of the public's right of access;
all government records shall be subject to public access unless exempt from such access by: P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) as amended and supplemented; any other statute; resolution of either or both houses of the Legislature; regulation promulgated under the authority of any statute or Executive Order of the Governor; Executive Order of the Governor; Rules of Court; any federal law, federal regulation, or federal order;
a public agency has a responsibility and an obligation to safeguard from public access a citizen's personal information with which it has been entrusted when disclosure thereof would violate the citizen's reasonable expectation of privacy; and nothing contained in P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, shall be construed as affecting in any way the common law right of access to any record, including but not limited to criminal investigatory records of a law enforcement agency.
L.1963,c.73,s.1; amended 2001, c.404, s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-1.2 - Restricted access to biotechnology trade secrets.

47:1A-1.2 Restricted access to biotechnology trade secrets.
2. a. When federal law or regulation requires the submission of biotechnology trade secrets and related confidential information, a public agency shall not have access to this information except as allowed by federal law.
b. A public agency shall not make any biotechnology trade secrets and related confidential information it has access to under this act available to any other public agency, or to the general public, except as allowed pursuant to federal law.
L.1995,c.23,s.2; amended 2001, c.404, s.3.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-1.3 - Certain firearms records considered public records.

47:1A-1.3 Certain firearms records considered public records.
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute or regulation to the contrary, government record as defined in section 1 of P.L.1995, c.23 (C.47:1A-1.1) shall include aggregate information regarding the total number of permits to purchase a handgun and firearms purchaser identification cards, without any personal identifying information, that have been issued by the Superintendent of State Police or the Chief of Police of a municipal police department.
L.2013, c.112, s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-2.2 - Access to certain information by convict prohibited; exceptions.

47:1A-2.2 Access to certain information by convict prohibited; exceptions.
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) or the provisions of any other law to the contrary, where it shall appear that a person who is convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of this State, any other state or the United States is seeking government records containing personal information pertaining to the person's victim or the victim's family, including but not limited to a victim's home address, home telephone number, work or school address, work telephone number, social security account number, medical history or any other identifying information, the right of access provided for in P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) as amended and supplemented shall be denied.
b. A government record containing personal identifying information which is protected under the provisions of this section may be released only if the information is necessary to assist in the defense of the requestor. A determination that the information is necessary to assist in the requestor's defense shall be made by the court upon motion by the requestor or his representative.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) as amended and supplemented, or any other law to the contrary, a custodian shall not comply with an anonymous request for a government record which is protected under the provisions of this section.
L.1998,c.17,s.1; amended 2001, c.404, s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-6 - Proceeding to challenge denial of access to record.

47:1A-6 Proceeding to challenge denial of access to record.
7. A person who is denied access to a government record by the custodian of the record, at the option of the requestor, may:
institute a proceeding to challenge the custodian's decision by filing an action in Superior Court which shall be heard in the vicinage where it is filed by a Superior Court Judge who has been designated to hear such cases because of that judge's knowledge and expertise in matters relating to access to government records; or
in lieu of filing an action in Superior Court, file a complaint with the Government Records Council established pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-7).
The right to institute any proceeding under this section shall be solely that of the requestor. Any such proceeding shall proceed in a summary or expedited manner. The public agency shall have the burden of proving that the denial of access is authorized by law. If it is determined that access has been improperly denied, the court or agency head shall order that access be allowed. A requestor who prevails in any proceeding shall be entitled to a reasonable attorney's fee.
L.2001,c.404,s.7.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-8 - Construction of act.

47:1A-8 Construction of act.
9. Nothing contained in P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, shall be construed as limiting the common law right of access to a government record, including criminal investigatory records of a law enforcement agency.
L.2001,c.404,s.9.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-9 - Other laws, regulations, privileges unaffected.

47:1A-9 Other laws, regulations, privileges unaffected.
10. a. The provisions of this act, P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.), shall not abrogate any exemption of a public record or government record from public access heretofore made pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.); any other statute; resolution of either or both Houses of the Legislature; regulation promulgated under the authority of any statute or Executive Order of the Governor; Executive Order of the Governor; Rules of Court; any federal law; federal regulation; or federal order.
b. The provisions of this act, P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.), shall not abrogate or erode any executive or legislative privilege or grant of confidentiality heretofore established or recognized by the Constitution of this State, statute, court rule or judicial case law, which privilege or grant of confidentiality may duly be claimed to restrict public access to a public record or government record.
L.2001,c.404,s.10.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-10 - Personnel, pension records not considered public information; exceptions.

47:1A-10 Personnel, pension records not considered public information; exceptions.
11. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) or any other law to the contrary, the personnel or pension records of any individual in the possession of a public agency, including but not limited to records relating to any grievance filed by or against an individual, shall not be considered a government record and shall not be made available for public access, except that:
an individual's name, title, position, salary, payroll record, length of service, date of separation and the reason therefor, and the amount and type of any pension received shall be a government record;
personnel or pension records of any individual shall be accessible when required to be disclosed by another law, when disclosure is essential to the performance of official duties of a person duly authorized by this State or the United States, or when authorized by an individual in interest; and
data contained in information which disclose conformity with specific experiential, educational or medical qualifications required for government employment or for receipt of a public pension, but not including any detailed medical or psychological information, shall be a government record.
L.2001,c.404,s.11.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-11 - Violations, penalties, disciplinary proceeding.

47:1A-11 Violations, penalties, disciplinary proceeding.
12. a. A public official, officer, employee or custodian who knowingly and willfully violates P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, and is found to have unreasonably denied access under the totality of the circumstances, shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for an initial violation, $2,500 for a second violation that occurs within 10 years of an initial violation, and $5,000 for a third violation that occurs within 10 years of an initial violation. This penalty shall be collected and enforced in proceedings in accordance with the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), and the rules of court governing actions for the collection of civil penalties. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of proceedings for the collection and enforcement of the penalty imposed by this section.
Appropriate disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against a public official, officer, employee or custodian against whom a penalty has been imposed.
L.2001,c.404,s.12.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1A-13 - Annual budget request for the council.

47:1A-13 Annual budget request for the council.
14. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall include in the annual budget request of the Department of Community Affairs a request for sufficient funds to effectuate the purposes of section 8 of P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-7).
L.2001,c.404,s.14.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1B-2 - Information redaction, nondisclosure request, enforcement.

47:1B-2 Information redaction, nondisclosure request, enforcement.
2. a. An authorized person seeking the redaction or nondisclosure of the home address of any covered person from certain records and Internet postings consistent with section 2 of P.L.2015, c.226 (C.47:1-17), section 1 of P.L.1995, c.23 (C.47:1A-1.1), or section 6 of P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5) shall submit a request in accordance with section 1 of P.L.2021, c.371 (C.47:1B-1) to the Office of Information Privacy through the secure portal established by the office. The address shall only be subject to redaction or nondisclosure if a request is submitted to and approved by the Director of the Office of Information Privacy.
b. A public agency shall redact or cease to disclose, in accordance with section 6 of P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5) and section 1 of P.L.1995, c.23 (C.47:1A-1.1), respectively, the home address of a covered person approved by the Office of Information Privacy not later than 30 days following the approval. A public agency shall also discontinue the redaction or nondisclosure of the home address of any covered person for whom a revocation request has been approved not later than 30 days following the approval.
c. An immediate family member who has sought and received approval under subsection a. of this section and who no longer resides with the active, formerly active, or retired judicial officer, law enforcement officer, child protective investigator in the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or prosecutor shall submit through the portal a revocation request not later than 30 days from the date on which the immediate family member no longer resided with the judicial officer, law enforcement officer, child protective investigator in the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or prosecutor.
d. A person submitting a request pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall affirm in writing that the person understands that certain rights, duties, and obligations are affected as a result of the request, including:
(1) the receipt of certain notices from non-governmental entities as would otherwise be required pursuant to the "Municipal Land Use Law," P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.);
(2) the signing of petitions related to the nomination or election of a candidate to public office or related to any public question;
(3) the eligibility or requirements related to seeking or accepting the nomination for election or election to public office, or the appointment to any public position;
(4) the sale or purchase of a home or other property, recordation of a judgment, lien or other encumbrance on real or other property, and any relief granted based thereon;
(5) the ability to be notified of any class action suit or settlement; and
(6) any other legal, promotional, or official notice which would otherwise be provided to the person but for the redaction or nondisclosure of such person's home address pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
L.2021, c.371, s.2; amended 2023, c.113, s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:1B-4 - Severability of act.

47:1B-4 Severability of act.
15. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.
L.2021, c.371, s.15.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:2-3 - Custody and control of records of extinct offices and bodies

47:2-3. Custody and control of records of extinct offices and bodies
The public record office shall have general and exclusive supervision, care, custody and control of all public records, books, pamphlets, documents, manuscripts, archives, maps and papers of any public office, body, board, institution or society which has or may become extinct, unless the care, custody and control of the same is otherwise provided for by law.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:2-4 - Examination of records of counties, municipalities or public bodies and institutions; indexing and preservation

47:2-4. Examination of records of counties, municipalities or public bodies and institutions; indexing and preservation
The public record office, through its director, shall examine into the condition of the records, books, pamphlets, documents, manuscripts, archives, maps and papers, now or hereafter kept, filed or recorded in the several public offices of every county or municipality, or required by law to be kept by any public body, board, institution or society created under any law of the state in any county or municipality.
Any public official may prescribe such system of indexing, and establish such rules and regulations concerning the care and preservation of such records as to him shall seem proper in any department of which he is in charge.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:2-5 - Preservation and restoration of certain records

47:2-5. Preservation and restoration of certain records
The public record office shall take such action as may be necessary to put the records it shall examine pursuant to section 47:2-4 of this title, or over which it shall obtain control pursuant to section 47:2-3 of this title, into the custody and condition contemplated by the various laws relating thereto, and shall provide for their restoration and preservation. The public record office shall cause copies of such records to be made whenever, by reason of age, use, exposure or any casualty, it shall be deemed necessary.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:2-6 - Copies of records as evidence; certification; originals preserved

47:2-6. Copies of records as evidence; certification; originals preserved
Whenever a copy of any record is made in accordance with the provisions of section 47:2-5 of this title, and after it has been compared with the original, it shall be certified by the public official or board having the legal custody and control of the original. Thereafter, the copy shall be considered and accepted as evidence, and treated for all other purposes, as though it were the original.
The original shall be cared for and preserved, as if no copy had been made, for such examination as may be directed by an order of court in any action or proceeding in which the accuracy of the copy is questioned.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:2-7 - Transfer of records

47:2-7. Transfer of records
The officers of any state department, or of any county or municipality, or of any institution or society created under any law of this state, may transfer to the public record office public records or other records, books, papers, documents, archives, maps or plans which are not in general use, and the record office shall receive the same when so transferred and shall provide for the custody and preservation thereof.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:2-8 - Historical records; acquisition and preservation

47:2-8. Historical records; acquisition and preservation
The public record office may acquire, preserve, classify and collate official records, letters and other material bearing upon the history of the government and the people of New Jersey, or transcripts of such records and papers whenever the board of commissioners cannot or may not desire to acquire the originals thereof.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-8.1 - Copies of reports of audit filed with director of Division of Local Government; destruction; notice

47:3-8.1. Copies of reports of audit filed with director of Division of Local Government; destruction; notice
Every certified duplicate copy of a report of audit filed with the director of the Division of Local Government in the Department of the Treasury, pursuant to section 40:4-8 of the Revised Statutes, shall be retained in the files of the said director for a ten-year period, following which it shall be destroyed except as otherwise herein provided. At the conclusion of the ten-year period the director shall notify the clerk of the board of chosen freeholders or the clerk of the municipality, as the case may be, in writing that the said duplicate copy is subject to destruction, unless the county or municipality desires the same for its permanent files, in which case the director shall deliver the same to the clerk of the board of chosen freeholders or the clerk of the municipality, and shall secure therefor a written receipt. In case any county or municipality does not desire to receive such duplicate copy, or fails to advise the director within ninety days after the receipt of the said written notice, the said director shall notify the head of the archives and history bureau of the Department of Education that unless said bureau desires to receive said duplicate copy it will be destroyed.
L.1952, c. 217, p. 749, s. 1, eff. May 17, 1952.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-8.2 - Copies of reports of audits; for years 1918 to 1940; opportunity to receive before destruction

47:3-8.2. Copies of reports of audits; for years 1918 to 1940; opportunity to receive before destruction
The said director is authorized to destroy all copies of reports of audits for the years one thousand nine hundred and eighteen to one thousand nine hundred and forty, inclusive, remaining in his possession after opportunity to receive the same is afforded to counties, municipalities and the archives and history bureau of the Department of Education in a similar manner as provided in section one hereof.
L.1952, c. 217, p. 749, s. 2.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-10 - Retention of specific papers may be ordered

47:3-10. Retention of specific papers may be ordered
The Superior Court assignment judge or the county judge, of the county, may order the retention of specific papers included in any of the aforedescribed papers and direct that such specific papers be retained by the county clerk or register of deeds and mortgages, as the case may be, as a part of the permanent records of the county.
L.1953, c. 269, p. 1797, s. 2.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-11 - Notices before destruction

47:3-11. Notices before destruction
3. None of the papers described in this act shall be removed and destroyed, or the records therein effectively obliterated, as provided herein, except on sixty days' written notice to the Superior Court Assignment Judge, and to the Division of State Library, Archives and History, in the Department of Education, and said division may acquire any of said papers for inclusion in the material bearing upon the history of the Government and the people of this State in the custody of the said division. Upon any such disposition of said papers by the county clerk or register of deeds and mortgages, as provided herein, the said county clerk or register of deeds and mortgages, as the case may be, shall file with the said division, a certificate under his hand and seal, setting forth the papers disposed of and the date of disposition. A copy of every such certificate shall be retained in the office of the county clerk or register of deeds and mortgages.
L.1953,c.269,s.3; amended 1991,c.91,s.468.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-13 - Papers on file over 25 years in office of county clerk; obliteration

47:3-13. Papers on file over 25 years in office of county clerk; obliteration
Whenever any papers have been on file for more than twenty-five years in the office of any county clerk, pertaining to the former court of oyer and terminer, circuit court, court of common pleas, court of quarter sessions, court of special sessions, and county court of said county, and form no part of the record of an enforceable judgment, the Superior Court Assignment Judge of the county, wherein such papers are on file, may order and direct the clerk of the county to remove or destroy such papers or otherwise effectively obliterate the records therein.
L.1953, c. 270, p. 1799, s. 1. Amended by L.1983, c. 321, s. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1983.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-16 - Terms defined

47:3-16. Terms defined
2. As used in this act, except where the context indicates otherwise, the words "public records" mean any paper, written or printed book, document or drawing, map or plan, photograph, microfilm, data processed or image processed document, sound-recording or similar device, or any copy thereof which has been made or is required by law to be received for filing, indexing, or reproducing by any officer, commission, agency or authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof, including subordinate boards thereof, or that has been received by any such officer, commission, agency or authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof, including subordinate boards thereof, in connection with the transaction of public business and has been retained by such recipient or its successor as evidence of its activities or because of the information contained therein.
As used in this act the word "bureau" means the Bureau of Archives and History in the Department of Education.
L.1953,c.410,s.2; amended 1994,c.140,s.3.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-17 - Consent of bureau to disposition or destruction of public records or documents

47:3-17. Consent of bureau to disposition or destruction of public records or documents
No person shall destroy, sell or otherwise dispose of any public record, archives or printed public documents which are under his control or in his care or custody, whether or not they are in current use, without first having advised the Bureau of Archives and History in the Department of Education of their nature, and obtained the written consent of that bureau; which consent may be given by said bureau only if the same is in conformance with regulations governing the granting thereof which shall be made and promulgated by the State Records Committee established by section six of this act.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2062, s. 3.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-18 - Classifications and categories

47:3-18. Classifications and categories
The bureau may from time to time establish specific classifications and categories for various types of the said "public records" and, in giving its consent as provided herein, may do so in a general and continuing manner according to the said classifications and categories.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2062, s. 4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-19 - Schedules

47:3-19. Schedules
The bureau, in co-operation with the several State departments, commissions and agencies, shall make a study of the kind and character of public records in their control or custody and shall prepare proposed schedules for submission to the State Records Committee established by section six hereof for its approval and advise the said several departments, commissions and agencies of all applicable operative schedules.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2062, s. 5.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-20 - State Records Committee; approval of schedule; regulations

47:3-20. State Records Committee; approval of schedule; regulations
No such schedule shall be operative unless approved by the State Records Committee which is hereby established in the State Department of Education and which shall consist of the State Treasurer, the Attorney-General, the State Auditor, the Director of the Division of Local Government in the Department of the Treasury, and the head of the Bureau of Archives and History in the Department of Education. Each member of the committee may designate in writing a representative to act in his place on said committee.
The State Records Committee shall have the powers and duties prescribed for it herein and shall make and promulgate such regulations, not inconsistent with law, as may be necessary to adequately effectuate such powers and duties.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2062, s. 6.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-21 - Schedule; filing of copy; retention of original

47:3-21. Schedule; filing of copy; retention of original
Whenever any such schedule is approved by the committee, a copy thereof shall be filed with the State department, commission or agency involved and with the State Auditor, and the original approval shall be retained by the Bureau of Archives and History in the Department of Education. Thereupon, such schedule shall remain in force and effect and may be acted upon by the said department, commission or agency until superseded by a subsequent duly approved schedule.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2063, s. 7.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-22 - Liability of officials and others for destruction of public records

47:3-22. Liability of officials and others for destruction of public records
No State official, or head of a State department, commission or other agency shall be held liable on his official bond, or in the way of damages for loss, or in any other manner, civil or criminal, because of the destruction of public records pursuant to the provisions of this act or any other law authorizing such destruction.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2063, s. 8.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-23 - Cancelled bonds and other evidences of indebtedness; destruction

47:3-23. Cancelled bonds and other evidences of indebtedness; destruction
Whenever, under the laws of this State, there shall have been issued and sold by the State or by any municipality, county, or school district, bonds, coupons, or other evidences of indebtedness and such bonds, coupons and other evidences of indebtedness shall have been cancelled and redeemed by the State Treasurer, the State House Commission, or by any agency or authorized official of the State, or by any municipality, county, or school district issuing the same, it shall be lawful for the official or officials in charge of the issuance, redemption and cancellation of such bonds, coupons or other evidences of indebtedness to destroy the same upon the written consent of the bureau, subject to regulations which shall be made and promulgated by the State Records Committee established by section six hereof.
The said officials, in the same manner, may destroy any bonds, coupons or other evidences of indebtedness which have been printed and which remain unused, or any registered bonds which remain unused at the time the issue has completely matured.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2063, s. 9.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-24 - Time for destruction or other disposition of bonds and other evidences of indebtedness

47:3-24. Time for destruction or other disposition of bonds and other evidences of indebtedness
The bureau, subject to regulations which shall be made and promulgated by the State Records Committee established by section six hereof, may give its consent to the immediate destruction or other disposition of bonds, coupons or other evidences of indebtedness which have not been used, but shall not consent to the destruction or other disposition of temporary bonds unless they have been replaced by definitive bonds, and then, only after the expiration of a year from the date of such replacement, or to the destruction or other disposition of bonds, coupons or other evidences of indebtedness which have been issued, except after the expiration of a period of seven years from their cancellation or maturity dates.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2064, s. 10.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-25 - Certificate of destruction; filing; evidence

47:3-25. Certificate of destruction; filing; evidence
Whenever bonds, coupons or other evidences of indebtedness are destroyed or otherwise disposed of under the provisions of this section, a certificate of destruction shall be prepared by the official having charge of such destruction or other disposition, setting forth the dates of issuances, the series and serial numbers and the face amounts of such bonds, coupons or other evidences of indebtedness.
Where the said certificates relate to State issues, they shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State and where they relate to county or municipal issues, they shall be filed in the office of the chief financial officer of the county or municipality, as the case may be. Any such certificate or certified copy thereof shall be receivable in evidence in any court or proceeding as prima facie evidence of the destruction of such bonds, coupons or other evidences of indebtedness.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2064, s. 11.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-26 - Standards, procedures and rules

47:3-26. Standards, procedures and rules
12. The Bureau of Archives and History in the Department of Education, with the approval of the State Records Committee established by section six hereof, shall formulate standards, procedures and rules for the photographing, microphotographing, microfilming, data processing and image processing of public records and for the preservation, examination and use of such records, including the indexing and arrangement thereof, for convenient reference purposes.
Whenever any officer, commission, agency or authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof, including subordinate boards thereof, shall have photographed, microphotographed, microfilmed, data processed or image processed all or any part of the public records, kept or required by law to be received and indexed in such manner as to conform with the standards, procedures and rules, and such photographs, microphotographs, microfilms, or data processed or image processed documents have been placed in conveniently accessible files and provision shall have been made for the preservation, examination and use of the same in conformity with the said standards and procedures, the original records from which the photographs, microphotographs, microfilms, or data processed or image processed documents have been made, or any part thereof, may be destroyed or the records therein otherwise effectively obliterated; provided, the said bureau shall first have given its written consent to such destruction or other disposition.
In the event of any such destruction or other disposition of any public records under the provisions of this section, the photograph, microphotograph, microfilm, or data processed or image processed document or a certified copy of said photograph, microphotograph, microfilm, or data processed or image processed document shall be receivable in evidence in any court or proceeding and shall have the same force and effect as though the original public record had been there produced and proved.
L.1953,c.410,s.12; amended 1994,c.140,s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-27 - Public records in private possession, bureau may demand

47:3-27. Public records in private possession, bureau may demand
The bureau is empowered to demand and receive from any person any public record in private possession belonging to this State, or to any county, municipality or school district thereof.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2066, s. 13.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-28 - Public records in private possession, person entitled to custody may demand

47:3-28. Public records in private possession, person entitled to custody may demand
Any person who is entitled by law to the custody of public records shall demand the same from any person in whose possession they may be, and such records forthwith shall be delivered to the officer charged by law with their custody.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2066, s. 14.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-29 - Removal, alteration or destruction of public records with malicious intent

47:3-29. Removal, alteration or destruction of public records with malicious intent
Any person who, without the consent of the person authorized to have custody thereof, removes an official record or paper from the files of any public agency or body, or who alters any map, plat, or other paper signed and approved by a public official without permission, or who alters, defaces, mutilates or destroys with malicious intent any public record shall be guilty of a high misdemeanor.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2066, s. 15. Amended by L.1968, c. 465, s. 1, eff. Feb. 21, 1969.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-30 - Rules and regulations

47:3-30. Rules and regulations
The bureau shall, with the approval of the State Records Committee established by section six hereof, make and promulgate rules and regulations for the effective administration of the laws relating the public records.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2066, s. 16.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-31 - Repeal

47:3-31. Repeal
Sections 47:3-1 to 47:3-6 of the Revised Statutes and "An act concerning the destruction of cancelled and redeemed acknowledgments of indebtedness, commonly known as "scrip,' which have been issued and sold by any municipality or county, and supplementing chapter three of Title 47 of the Revised Statutes," approved June fourteenth, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight, are repealed.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2066, s. 17.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:3-32 - Inconsistency between provisions of this act and other acts

47:3-32. Inconsistency between provisions of this act and other acts
In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of this act and the provisions of "An act concerning certain papers and records on file in the offices of the county clerks and registers of deeds and mortgages, and supplementing chapter three of Title 47 of the Revised Statutes," approved July twenty-fifth, one thousand nine hundred and fifty-three (P.L.1953, c. 269) or of "An act concerning the destruction or other disposition of certain papers on file in the offices of the county clerks, pertaining to the former courts of oyer and terminer, circuit courts, courts of common pleas, courts of quarter sessions and courts of special sessions," approved July twenty-fifth, one thousand nine hundred and fifty-three (P.L.1953, c. 270), the provisions of such other act shall prevail.
L.1953, c. 410, p. 2066, s. 18.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 47 - Public Records › Section 47:4-2 - Address confidentiality for certain individuals.

47:4-2 Address confidentiality for certain individuals.
47:4-2. The Legislature finds that persons attempting to escape from actual or threatened domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault, and reproductive health service patients and providers may establish new addresses to prevent their assailants or other individuals from finding them. The purpose of this act is to enable public agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing the location of a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault, or reproductive health service patients and providers, to enable interagency cooperation with the Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families in providing address confidentiality for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault, and reproductive health service patients and providers, and to enable public agencies to accept a program participant's use of an address designated by the director as a substitute mailing address.
amended 2019, c.175, s.1.