New Jersey Government Records Council

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New Jersey Government Records Council
Leadership: A chair is selected from the public members of the body.
Founded by: New Jersey Open Public Records Act
Website: http://www.state.nj.us/grc/
Powers:
The council is charged with enforcing the act, including issuing opinions, conducting investigations and responding to inquiries and complaints.

Contents

State Sunshine Laws
State Sunshine laws
State Open Meeting Laws
Transparency headlines
Statutory changes
Notable FOIA requests
How to ask for records
State sunshine lawsuits
State court cases
E-mail access
Private agency, public dollars
The WikiFOIA portal


The New Jersey Government Records Council was established by statute and is charged with enforcing the provisions of the New Jersey Open Public Records Act.

[edit] Duties

The GRC is is required to:

  • Respond to inquiries and complaints about the law from the public and public agency records custodians;
  • Issue public information about the law and services provided by the Council;
  • Maintain a toll-free help-line and Web site to assist the public and records custodians;
  • Issue advisory opinions on the accessibility of government records;
  • Deliver training on OPRA;
  • Provide mediation of disputes about access to government records;
  • Resolve disputes regarding access to government records.[1]

[edit] Membership

The membership of the council is composed of:

  • Commissioner of Community Affairs
  • Commissioner of Education
  • three public members appointed by the Governor, from more than one political party and who do not hold any other state or local political offices.[1]

[edit] Meeting information

[edit] GRC Meetings

"The Government Records Council meets monthly in the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs building at 101 S. Broad Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08625. The monthly meetings are held in Room 129. Personal identification must be shown at the security desk of this building to gain entry. Please check the meeting schedule for dates and times."[2]

[edit] OPRA Training

"The Government Records Council makes training opportunities available for records custodians and other public officers and employees which explain the law governing access to government records. These training sessions are generally held in the 21 counties of the State for municipal clerks and other local and county government officials who participate in the process of fulfilling Open Public Records Act requests. Additionally, training sessions are made available to state records custodians and officials who participate in the process of fulfilling Open Public Records Act requests. Please check the training schedule for dates and times."[2]

[edit] Notable Rulings

"E-mails are subject to the state Open Public Records Act, even when those messages haven’t been opened." This ruling was made on behalf of former West Milford Councilman Joseph Elcavage. On February 6, 2006 Elcavage filed an open records request with the town seeking e-mails sent to the account of Councilman James Warden. His request was denied by town clerk Antoinette Battaglia due to the fact that of the 270 messages in the account, only 15 had ever been opened. Elcavage filed a complaint with the Government Records Council on March 9, 2006, which determined that the e-mails are a matter of public record despite having not been opened. [3]

[edit] Contact

Toll-free help line: 866-850-0511

Mailing address:
Government Records Council
PO Box 819
Trenton, NJ 0825-0819

Street address:
Government Records Council
101 South Broad Street
Trenton, NJ 08625

Website: NJ Government Records Council

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

NJ Government Records Council

[edit] References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 New Jersey statute C.47:1A-7
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 GRC meetings website
  3. ↑ State records council rules e-mails are public records West Milford Messenger, June 6, 2008
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