A 1543 — Requires redaction of certain personal identifying information on vehicle accident reports.

          information generated by or on behalf of public employers or public employees in connection with any sexual harassment complaint filed with a public employer or with any grievance filed by or against an individual or in connection with collective negotiations, including documents and statements of strategy or negotiating position;

          information which is a communication between a public agency and its insurance carrier, administrative service organization or risk management office;

          information which is to be kept confidential pursuant to court order;

          any copy of form DD-214, NGB-22, or that form, issued by the United States Government, or any other certificate of honorable discharge, or copy thereof, from active service or the reserves of a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, or from service in the organized militia of the State, that has been filed by an individual with a public agency, except that a veteran or the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse shall have access to the veteran's own records;

          any copy of an oath of allegiance, oath of office or any affirmation taken upon assuming the duties of any public office, or that oath or affirmation, taken by a current or former officer or employee in any public office or position in this State or in any county or municipality of this State, including members of the Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch, and all law enforcement entities, except that the full name, title, and oath date of that person contained therein shall not be deemed confidential;

          that portion of any document which discloses the social security number, credit card number, debit card number, bank account information, month and day of birth, any personal email address required by a public agency for government applications, services, or programs, any telephone number or driver license number of any person, or, in accordance with section 2 of P.L.2021, c.371 (C.47:1B-2), that portion of any document which discloses the home address, whether a primary or secondary residence, of any active, formerly active, or retired judicial officer, law enforcement officer, child protective investigator in the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or prosecutor, or, as defined in section 1 of P.L.2021, c.371 (C.47:1B-1), any immediate family member thereof;

          1vehicle accident report information.  However, unredacted vehicle accident reports shall be available to authorized requestors specified in section 4 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);1       that portion of any document that discloses the personal identifying information of any person provided to a public agency for the sole purpose of receiving official notifications;

          a list of persons identifying themselves as being in need of special assistance in the event of an emergency maintained by a municipality for public safety purposes pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2017, c.266 (C.40:48-2.67) and their personal identifying information;

          a list of persons identifying themselves as being in need of special assistance in the event of an emergency maintained by a county for public safety purposes pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2011, c.178 (C.App.A:9-43.13) and their personal identifying information;

          that portion of any document that requires and would disclose personal identifying information of persons under the age of 18 years, except with respect to the disclosure of driver information by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission as permitted by section 2 of P.L.1997, c.188 (C.39:2-3.4) or the disclosure of driver information to any insurer or insurance support organization, or a self-insured entity, or its agents, employees, or contractors, for use in connection with claims investigation activities, antifraud activities, rating, or underwriting, and except with respect to the disclosure of voter information on voter and election records pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2024, c.16 (C.47:1A-5.3);

          personal identifying information disclosed on domestic animal permits, licenses, and registration;

          structured reference data that helps to sort and identify attributes of the information it describes, referred to as metadata, or any extrapolation or compilation thereof, which shall include the SMTP header properties of emails, except that portion that identifies authorship, identity of editor, and time of change;

          New Jersey State Firemen's Association financial relief applications;

          owner and maintenance manuals;

          data classified under the "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-191;

and           any indecent or graphic images of a person's intimate parts, as defined in section 10 of P.L.2024, c.16 (C.47:1A-5.2), that are captured in a photograph or video recording without the prior written consent of the subject of the photograph or video footage, as defined in section 10 of P.L.2024, c.16 (C.47:1A-5.2).

          A government record shall not include, with regard to any public institution of higher education, the following information which is deemed to be privileged and confidential:confidential:        pedagogical, scholarly and/or academic research records and/or the specific details of any research project conducted under the auspices of a public higher education institution in New Jersey, including, but not limited to, research, development information, testing procedures, or information regarding test participants, related to the development or testing of any pharmaceutical or pharmaceutical delivery system, except that a custodian may not deny inspection of a government record or part thereof that gives the name, title, expenditures, source and amounts of funding and date when the final project summary of any research will be available;

          pedagogical,test scholarlyquestions, and/orscoring academickeys researchand recordsother and/orexamination thedata specificpertaining details of any research project conducted under the auspices of a public higher education institution in New Jersey, including, but not limited to, research, development information, testing procedures, or information regarding test participants, related to the developmentadministration or testing of anyan pharmaceuticalexamination orfor pharmaceuticalemployment delivery system, except that a custodian may not deny inspection of a government record or partacademic thereofexamination; that gives the name, title, expenditures, source and amounts of funding and date when the final project summary of any research will be available;

          testrecords questions,of scoringpursuit keysof andcharitable othercontributions examinationor datarecords pertainingcontaining tothe identity of a donor of a gift if the administrationdonor requires non-disclosure of anthe examinationdonor's foridentity employmentas a condition of making the gift provided that the donor has not received any benefits of or academicfrom examination;the institution of higher education in connection with such gift other than a request for memorialization or dedication;

          recordsvaluable of pursuit of charitable contributions or recordsrare containingcollections the identity of abooks donoror ofdocuments aobtained giftby ifgift, thegrant, donorbequest requires non-disclosure of the donor's identity as a condition of making the gift provided that the donor has not received any benefits of or fromdevise theconditioned institutionupon oflimited higherpublic educationaccess; in connection with such gift other than a request for memorialization or dedication;

          valuableinformation orcontained rareon collectionsindividual ofadmission booksapplications; or documents obtained by gift, grant, bequest or devise conditioned upon limited public access;

          1[personal identifying information containedand auto insurance policy numbers included on individualvehicle admissionaccident applications;reports, except that unredacted vehicle accident reports shall be available to those parties specified in section 3 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);]1 and       information concerning student records or grievance or disciplinary proceedings against a student to the extent disclosure would reveal the identity of the student.

          personalNothing identifyingin informationthis andsection autoshall insurancebe policyconstrued numbersto includedlimit onthe vehiclerequirements accidentto reports,provide exceptand thatmake unredactedpublicly vehicleavailable accidentthe reportsinformation shallpursuant be available to those parties specified in section 35 of P.L.   P.L.1963, ,c.150 c.   (C.34:11-56.29) (C.       and )section (pending5 beforeof theP.L.1999, Legislaturec.238 as(C.34:11-56.52). this bill);

and          "Judicial informationofficer" concerningmeans studentany recordsactive, formerly active, or grievanceretired federal, state, county, or disciplinarymunicipal proceedingsjudge, againstincluding a studentjudge toof the extentTax disclosureCourt wouldand revealany other court of limited jurisdiction established, altered, or abolished by law, a judge of the identityOffice of Administrative Law, a judge of the student.Division of Workers' Compensation, and any other judge established by law who serves in the executive branch.

          Nothing1"Labor inorganization" thismeans sectionany shallorganization bethat construedexists toand limitis constituted for the requirementspurpose, toin providewhole andor makein publiclypart, availableof thecollective informationbargaining, pursuantof todealing sectionwith 5employers ofconcerning P.L.1963,grievances, c.150terms (C.34:11-56.29)or andconditions sectionof 5employment, or of P.L.1999,other c.238mutual (C.34:11-56.52).aid or protection in connection with employment.1       "Law enforcement agency" means a public agency, or part thereof, determined by the Attorney General to have law enforcement responsibilities.

          "Judicial"Law enforcement officer" means anya active,person formerlywhose active,public orduties retiredinclude federal,the state,power county,to oract municipalas judge,an includingofficer afor judge of the Taxdetection, Courtapprehension, arrest, and anyconviction other court of limitedoffenders jurisdictionagainst established, altered, or abolished by law, a judge of the Officelaws of Administrativethis Law,State. a judge of the Division of Workers' Compensation, and any other judge established by law who serves in the executive branch.

          "Law"Member enforcementof agency"the Legislature" means aany publicperson agency,elected or partselected thereof,to determinedserve byin the AttorneyNew GeneralJersey toSenate haveor lawGeneral enforcementAssembly. responsibilities.

          "Law"Personal enforcementfirearms officer"record" means aany personinformation whosecontained publicin dutiesa includebackground investigation conducted by the powerchief toof actpolice, asthe ancounty officerprosecutor, foror the detection,Superintendent apprehension,of arrest,State andPolice, conviction of offendersany againstapplicant thefor lawsa ofpermit thisto State.purchase a handgun, firearms identification card license, or firearms registration;

     "Member of the Legislature" means any person elected or selected to serve in the New Jersey Senate or General Assembly.

     "Personal firearms record" means any information contained in a background investigation conducted by the chief of police, the county prosecutor, or the Superintendent of State Police, of any applicant for a permit to purchase a handgun, firearms identification card license, or firearms registration;

          "Public agency" or "agency" means any of the principal departments in the Executive Branch of State Government, and any division, board, bureau, office, commission or other instrumentality within or created by such department;

          1"Vehicle accident report information" means and includes the following data elements found on a vehicle accident report:  the name of any person under 18 years of age, social security number, driver’s license number, month and day of birth, personal email address, personal telephone number, the street address portion of any person's primary or secondary home address, vehicle identification number, and automobile insurance policy number.  "Vehicle accident report information" shall not include the name of any person 18 years of age or older.1       "Victim of a crime" means a person who has suffered personal or psychological injury or death or incurs loss of or injury to personal or real property as a result of a crime, or if such a person is deceased or incapacitated, a member of that person's immediate family.

          "Victim's record" means an individually identifiable file or document held by a victims' rights agency which pertains directly to a victim of a crime except that a victim of a crime shall have access to the victim's own records.

          "Victims' rights agency" means a public agency, or part thereof, the primary responsibility of which is providing services, including, but not limited to, food, shelter, or clothing, medical, psychiatric, psychological or legal services or referrals, information and referral services, counseling and support services, or financial services to victims of crimes, including victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, violent crime, child endangerment, child abuse or child neglect, and the Victims of Crime Compensation Board, established pursuant to P.L.1971, c.317 (C.52:4B-1 et seq.) and continued as the Victims of Crime Compensation Office pursuant to P.L.2007, c.95 (C.52:4B-3.2 et al.) and Reorganization Plan No.

          As used in this section, "personal identifying information" means information that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific individual.  1"1 Personal identifying information 1"1 shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following data elements:elements:  name, social security number, credit card number, debit card number, bank account information, month and day of birth, any personal email address required by a public agency for government applications, services, or programs, personal telephone number, the street address portion of any person's primary or secondary home address, or driver license number of any person.  "Personal identifying information" shall not include any street address, mailing address, email address, or telephone number of a public agency.  "Personal identifying information" shall not include the email address of a governmental affairs agent.

name,(cf:  socialP.L.2024, securityc.16, number,s.1) credit  card      number,2.   debitSection cardof number,P.L.2001, bankc.404 account(C.47:1A-11) information,is monthamended to read as follows:        12.  a.  If a public official, officer, employee, or custodian is found to have knowingly and daywillfully ofviolated birth,P.L.1963, anyc.73 personal(C.47:1A-1 emailet addressseq.), requiredas byamended aand supplemented, and to have unreasonably denied access under the totality of the circumstances, the public agency forthat governmentemploys applications,the services,custodian, officer, employee, or programs,official personalshall telephonebe number,subject theto streeta addresscivil portionpenalty of any$1,000 person'sfor primaryan orinitial secondaryviolation, home$2,500 address,for ora driversecond licenseviolation numberthat ofoccurs anywithin person. 10 "Personalyears identifyingof information"an shallinitial notviolation, includeand any$5,000 streetfor address,a mailingthird address,violation emailthat address,occurs orwithin telephone10 numberyears of aan publicinitial agency. violation.  "PersonalThe identifyingpenalties information"authorized shallpursuant notto includethis subsection may be imposed by the emailcourts addressor ofby athe governmentalGovernment affairsRecords agent.Council.

(cf:      b.   (1) A requestor who is found to have intentionally failed to certify that a records request is for a commercial purpose shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for the first offense, $2,500 for the second offense, and $5,000 for each subsequent offense.  The penalties may be imposed by the courts.

P.L.2024,      c.16,(2)  s.1)An  authorized     requestor 2.   who Sectionwas 12provided an unredacted vehicle accident report pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2001,P.L.1995, c.404c.23 (C.47:1A-11)(C.47:1A-1.1) and is amendedfound to readhave asknowingly follows:and willfully publicly disclosed the 1[personal identifying information or auto insurance policy numbers disclosed on the vehicle accident report] vehicle accident report information of a party to the acicdent1 without 1the party’s1 written consent 1[of all parties involved in the accident]1 , and in the case of a deceased or incapacitated party, the written consent of 1[that person’s] the party’s1 legal next of kin, 1guardian, or personal representative,1 shall be subject to a civil penalty of 1[$1,000] $2501 for the first offense, 1[$2,500] $5001 for the second offense, and 1[$5,000] $1,0001 for each subsequent offense.  The penalties may be imposed by the courts.

          12. c.   a. These Ifpenalties ashall publicbe official,collected officer,and employee,enforced orin custodianproceedings isin foundaccordance towith havethe knowingly"Penalty andEnforcement willfullyLaw violatedof P.L.1963,1999," c.73P.L.1999, (C.47:1A-1c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), as amended and supplemented,the andrules toof havecourt unreasonablygoverning deniedactions accessfor under the totalitycollection of thecivil circumstances,penalties.  theThe publicSuperior agencyCourt that employs the custodian, officer, employee, or official shall behave subjectjurisdiction to a civil penalty of $1,000proceedings for anthe initialcollection violation, $2,500 for a second violation that occurs within 10 years of an initial violation, and $5,000enforcement for a third violation that occurs within 10 years of anthe initialpenalty violation.  The penalties authorized pursuant to this subsection may be imposed by thethis courtssection. or by the Government Records Council.

          b.   d.   (1)Appropriate Adisciplinary requestorproceedings whomay isbe foundinitiated toagainst have intentionally failed to certify that a recordspublic requestofficial, isofficer, foremployee aor commercialcustodian purposeagainst shallwhom be subject to a civil penalty ofhas $1,000been forimposed. the first offense, $2,500 for the second offense, and $5,000 for each subsequent offense.  The penalties may be imposed by the courts.

          (2)1e.  AnAs authorizedused requestorin whothis wassection, provided"vehicle anaccident unredactedreport vehicleinformation" accidentmeans reportthe pursuantsame toas that term is defined in section 1 of P.L.1995, c.23 (C.47:1A-1.1)(C.47:1A-1.1).1 and(cf:  P.L.2024, c.16, s.5)         13.  R.S.39:4-131 is foundamended to haveread knowinglyas andfollows:  willfully      publicly39:4-131.   disclosedThe theDepartment personalof identifyingTransportation informationshall orprepare autoand insurancesupply policyto numberspolice discloseddepartments onand theother vehiclesuitable accidentagencies, reportforms withoutfor writtenaccident consentreports ofcalling allfor partiessufficiently involveddetailed ininformation thewith accident,reference andto ina themotor casevehicle ofaccident, aincluding deceasedthe orcause, incapacitatedthe party,conditions then existing, the writtenpersons consentand ofvehicles thatinvolved, person’sthe legalcompliance nextwith ofP.L.1984, kin,c.179 shall(C.39:3-76.2e beet subjectseq.) toby athe civiloperators penaltyand passengers of $1,000the forvehicles involved in the firstaccident, offense,whether $2,500the foroperator of the secondvehicle offense,was andusing $5,000a forcellular eachtelephone subsequentwhen offense. the Theaccident penaltiesoccurred, mayand besuch imposedother byinformation as the courts.Commissioner of Transportation may require.

          c.    Every Theselaw penaltiesenforcement shallofficer who investigates a vehicle accident of which report must be collectedmade andas enforcedrequired in proceedingsthis inTitle, accordanceor withwho theotherwise "Penaltyprepares Enforcementa Lawwritten ofor 1999,"an P.L.1999,electronic c.274report (C.2A:58-10as eta seq.),result andof an accident or thereafter by interviewing the rulesparticipants ofor courtwitnesses, governingshall actionselectronically fortransmit thea collectionreport of civilsuch penalties. accident Theto Superiorthe Courtdepartment, shallon haveforms jurisdictionfurnished ofby proceedingsit forand in the collectionelectronic andformat enforcementprescribed ofby the penaltydepartment, imposedwithin byfive thisdays section.after the law enforcement officer's investigation of the accident.

          d.   [Such] AppropriateExcept disciplinaryas proceedingsotherwise provided in section 1 of P.L.1995, c.23 (C.47:1A-1.1) and sections 4 and 5 of P.L.    , c.    (C.         and C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), such written or electronic reports required to be prepared by law enforcement officers and the information contained therein shall not be privileged or held confidential [.  Every] , and every citizen of this State shall have the right, during regular business hours and under supervision, to inspect and copy such reports and shall also have the right in person to purchase copies of the reports at the same fee established by section 6 of P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5).  If copies of reports are requested other than in person, an additional fee of up to $5 may be initiatedadded againstto cover the administrative costs of the report.  Upon request, a publicpolice official,department officer,shall employeesend an accident report to a person through the mail or custodianvia againstfax.  whomThe police department may require the person requesting the report to provide a penaltycompleted hasrequest beenform imposed.and the appropriate fee prior to faxing or mailing the report.  The police department shall provide the person requesting the report with the option of submitting the form and providing the appropriate fee either in person, through the mail, or via fax.

(cf:      The provisions of any other law or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding, reports obtained pursuant to this act shall not be subject to confidentiality requirements, except as provided by section 28 of P.L.1960, c.52 (C.2A:84A-28), section 1 of P.L.1995, c.23 (C.47:1A-1.1), and sections 4 and of P.L.    , c.    (C.         and C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

P.L.2024,      c.16,When s.5)a  motor     vehicle 3.   accident (Newresults section)in a. the Unredacteddeath vehicleor accidentincapacitation reportsof the driver or any passenger, the law enforcement officer responsible for notifying the next of kin that their relative is deceased or incapacitated, also shall beinform availablethe relative, in writing, how to obtain a copy of the followingaccident authorizedreport parties:required by this section and the name, address, and telephone number of the person storing the motor vehicle pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1964, c.81 (C.39:10A-1).

(1)      individualsThe involvedNew Jersey Department of Transportation shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to require law enforcement officers to electronically transmit crash reports required to be prepared pursuant to this section.1 (cf:  P.L.2023, c.55, s.1)         1[3.] 4.1    (New section) a.  1As used in this section, "vehicle accident report information" means the accident;same as that term is defined in section 1 of P.L.1995, c.23 (C.47:1A-1.1).

      b.1  Unredacted vehicle accident reports shall be available to the following authorized 1[parties] requestors1:  (1) individuals involved in the accident;

(3) auto1[auto]1 insurance companies 1, or a third party working on the company’s behalf,1 representing a party to the accident;

and1[and]1 (4) local, State, and federal law enforcement agencies and their employees or agents acting within the scope of their official duties. duties Authorized1; requestors who receive an unredacted report may use such confidential information solely for legal, investigatory, or insurance-related purposes.

 Disclosureand of(5) anya personalrequestor identifyingauthorized informationpursuant or auto insurance policy numbers to the publicfederal is"Driver’s prohibitedPrivacy withoutProtection theAct written consent of all1994," parties18 involvedU.S.C. or, in the case of an individual who is deceased, incapacitated as defined in N.J.S.3B:1-2, or otherwise lacks legal capacity, the written consent of that person’s legal next of kin.  Internal use or sharing of information by employees, agents, or contractors of an authorized attorney, auto insurance company, or local, State, and federal law enforcement agency, shall not considered public disclosure, provided that the information is used exclusively for legal representation, claims processing, or accident-related investigation.

    s.2721 b.   et Anseq1.  authorizedAuthorized requestorrequestors who isreceive foundan tounredacted have1vehicle knowinglyaccident1 andreport willfullymay publiclyuse disclosed1[such] thethe1 personalconfidential identifying information or1obtained1 autosolely insurancefor policylegal, numbersinvestigatory, disclosedor oninsurance-related thepurposes vehicle1or accidentas reportotherwise withoutauthorized writtenunder consent of all parties involved in the accident,federal and"Driver’s inPrivacy theProtection caseAct of a1994," deceased18 orU.S.C. incapacitated party, the written consent of that person’s legal next of kin, shall be subject to a civil penalty pursuant to section 12 of P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-11).

    s.2721 Foret purposesseq1.  Disclosure of thisany act,1[personal P.L.   identifying ,information c.   or (pendingauto beforeinsurance thepolicy Legislaturenumbers] asvehicle thisaccident bill),report “disclosureinformation1 to the public”public 1[is] shall include,be1 butprohibited notwithout bethe limitedwritten to,consent distributionof through1[all media,parties onlineinvolved] platforms,the commercialparty sale,to correspondence,the includingaccident emailwhose orvehicle writtenaccident communication,report orinformation anyis otherto methodbe bydisclosed1 whichor, suchin informationthe iscase madeof accessible1[an toindividual] individualsa party1 who areis notdeceased, authorizedincapacitated underas lawdefined toin accessN.J.S.3B:1-2, suchor data. otherwise     lacks c.    legal Thecapacity, custodianthe ofwritten aconsent governmentof record1[that shallperson’s] maintainthe aparty’s1 loglegal next of allkin unredacted1, vehicleguardian, accidentor reportspersonal providedrepresentative1.  pursuantInternal touse thisor act,sharing P.L.   of ,information c.   by (pendingemployees, beforeagents, theor Legislaturecontractors asof thisan bill),authorized includingattorney, the1[auto]1 nameinsurance ofcompany, theor requestor,local, theirState, legaland basisfederal forlaw access,enforcement andagency the1[,]1 dateshall ofnot 1be1 considered public disclosure, provided that the disclosure. information Suchis recordsused shallexclusively befor madelegal availablerepresentation, toclaims theprocessing, Government1[or] Recordsan1 Councilaccident-related investigation 1, or Attorneyas Generalotherwise uponauthorized requestunder inthe connectionfederal with"Driver’s anPrivacy investigation.Protection Act of 1994," 18 U.S.C.

 s.2721     et 4.   seq1. This act shall take effect immediately.

        1[b.] STATEMENTc.1     An     authorized Thisrequestor billwho strengthensis personalfound privacyto andhave securityknowingly forand Newwillfully Jerseypublicly residentsdisclosed by requiring the redaction1[personal of personal identifying information andor auto insurance policy numbers fromdisclosed on the vehicle accident reportsreport] beforevehicle thoseaccident reportsreport areinformation releasedof a party to the publicaccident1 underwithout the1the lawparty’s1 commonlywritten knownconsent as1[of all parties involved in the openaccident]1, publicand recordsin actthe (OPRA). case Atof a timedeceased whenor dataincapacitated breachesparty, andthe identitywritten theftconsent areof increasingly1[that common,person’s] safeguardingthe thisparty’s1 informationlegal isnext essentialof kin 1, guardian, or personal representative1, shall be subject to protectinga individuals’civil privacypenalty rightspursuant andto preventingsection misuse12 of sensitiveP.L.2001, data.c.404 (C.47:1A-11).

          TheFor billpurposes limitsof access1[this toact,]1 unredactedP.L.    , vehiclec.    accident1(C.        )1 reports(pending before the Legislature as this bill), “disclosure to partiesthe withpublic” ashall clearlyinclude, definedbut legal,not insurance,be limited to, distribution through media, online platforms, commercial sale, correspondence, including email or investigatorywritten purpose. communication, Authorizedor partiesany includeother method by which such information is made accessible to individuals involvedwho inare thenot accident;authorized under law to access such data.

      1[c.] d.1    The custodian of a government record shall maintain a log of all unredacted vehicle accident reports provided pursuant to 1[this act,]1 P.L.    , c.     1(C.        )1 (pending before the Legislature as this bill), including the name of the 1authorized1 requestor, their attorneys;legal basis for access, and the date of the disclosure.  Such records shall be made available to the Government Records Council 1in the Department of Community Affairs1 or 1the1 Attorney General upon request in connection with an investigation.

insurance  companies      representing15.  (New Section)  Nothing in P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be construed to prohibit the disclosure of an unredacted vehicle accident report to a partyrequestor authorized to access the accident;report pursuant to the federal "Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994," 18 U.S.C.

ands.2721 local,et State,seq.  andAn federal law enforcement agencies and their employees or agents acting within the scope of their official duties.  Under the bill, authorized recipientsrequestor arewho strictlyreceives limitedan to using unredacted informationvehicle foraccident officialreport purposespursuant andto are prohibited from disclosing it publicly without the writtenfederal consent"Driver’s ofPrivacy allProtection involvedAct parties or, in the case of a1994," deceased18 orU.S.C. incapacitated person, the legal next of kin.

    s.2721 Toet deterseq. unauthorized disclosure, the bill imposes escalating civil penalties.  The penalties are $1,000 for a first offense, $2,500 for a second offense, and $5,000 for each subsequent offense.  The bill also requires custodians of government records at government agencies to keep a log of unredacted accident report disclosures, which are required to be made available to the Government Records Council or Attorney General upon request in connection with an investigation.

shall only use or disclose the report as permitted and pursuant to the limitations established in the federal "Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994," 18 U.S.C.

s.2721 et seq.1        1[4.]  6.1    This act shall take effect immediately.