10:5-8.2 Investigation, enforcement actions, communications privileged.

9. a. When it shall appear to the Attorney General or the director that a person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any practice declared to be unlawful by the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.) or the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.143 (C.10:6-1 et seq.), or when the Attorney General or the director believes it to be in the public interest that an investigation should be made to ascertain whether a person in fact has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any such practice, the Attorney General or the director may conduct an investigation. The Attorney General or the director may utilize all investigative powers set forth in section 8 of P.L1945, c.169 (C.10:5-8) in conducting such investigations.

b. The Attorney General or the director shall have the authority to bring enforcement actions for any violation of this act in the Office of Administrative Law or the Superior Court for the county in which the action occurred.

c. When the Attorney General or the director brings an action pursuant to this act in the Office of Administrative Law or in Superior Court that seeks relief for an individual who claims to be a victim of unlawful discrimination, communications between members of the Attorney General's office and that individual shall be privileged as would be a communication between an attorney and a client.

L.2019, c.436, s.9.