photo of State Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen
the staff of the Ridgewooded blog
Trenton NJ, New Jersey lawmakers have paused their efforts to revamp the state’s public records laws following criticism from various good government groups. The bill (S2930), introduced by top Democrats just a week ago, faced swift opposition from nonprofits, civil rights organizations, unions, and the media, who voiced their concerns at dual committee meetings in Trenton on Monday. Originally slated for a crucial hearing in the state Assembly appropriations committee on Thursday, the bill was unexpectedly withdrawn from the agenda shortly before noon.
Proponents of the $8 million measure argue that it aims to modernize New Jersey’s records laws by safeguarding personal information, enhancing online access to records, and curbing the activities of commercial “data brokers.” The bill was crafted in collaboration with the League of Municipalities, representing local governments, which has long bemoaned the burden placed on small government offices by extensive records requests under the existing Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
However, critics view the bill as an attempt to weaken OPRA, a law enacted in 2002 that enables the public to request various government records. Proposed changes include requiring requestors to use agency-specific forms, granting towns the ability to sue over perceived harassment through requests, and tightening access to emails and metadata.
During Monday’s hearing, State Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, one of the bill’s sponsors, expressed misconceptions about existing records laws, suggesting that anyone could request surveillance footage of public playgrounds. However, a prior court ruling already imposes strict limitations on the release of such footage for security reasons.
Sarlo later acknowledged the decision to delay the bill, affirming that amendments would improve transparency, modernize OPRA, and safeguard citizens’ privacy. He highlighted amendments aimed at curtailing the exploitation of OPRA for profit and enhancing the protection of personal information.
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Sarlo is a smart guy, just ask him.
Sarlo invented the term triple-dipper. He has his fingers in everything in the Meadowlands.