Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman AURA K. DUNN
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Myhre
SYNOPSIS
Requires establishment of hotline for purpose of reporting certain acts of misconduct by public officials.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring the establishment of a hotline for the purpose of reporting certain acts of misconduct by public officials and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Within 60 days of the effective date of this section, the Department of Law and Public Safety shall establish reporting mechanisms, which shall include, but need not be limited to, a 24-hour toll-free hotline, for the purpose of reporting illegal activity committed by public officials including, but not limited to, bribery, corruption, misuse of public or campaign funds, and misconduct. Such reporting mechanisms shall receive and respond to such reports and the department shall promptly investigate all reports received.
If the department finds that a report of illegal activity is credible, the department may undertake any legal action as may be necessary and appropriate, including referring the matter to another criminal or civil law enforcement agency tasked with oversight of such conduct or filing a complaint with the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Commission on Ethical Standards, as appropriate.
b. The department shall take appropriate steps to publicize the hotline and any other reporting mechanisms established by the department, which shall include prominently displaying the hotline phone number on the department’s website.
c. As used in this section, "public official" means any person who serves as a public officer or employee under the government of this State or any political subdivision of this State.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the establishment of certain reporting mechanisms for the purpose of reporting certain acts of misconduct by public officials.
The bill requires that, within 60 days of the effective date of the bill, the Department of Law and Public Safety establish reporting mechanisms, including a 24-hour toll-free hotline, for the purpose of reporting illegal activity committed by public officials including, but not limited to, bribery, corruption, misuse of public or campaign funds, and misconduct. Such reporting mechanisms will receive and respond to such reports and the department shall promptly investigate all reports received. If the department finds that a report of illegal activity is credible, the department is authorized to undertake further action as may be necessary and appropriate.
The bill mandates the department to take appropriate steps to publicize the hotline and any other reporting mechanisms established by the department, which must include prominently displaying the hotline phone number on the department’s website.
The bill defines "public official" as any person who serves as a public officer or employee under the government of this State or any political subdivision of this State.