19:61-6 Filing of complaint, procedure in Division of Elections, alternative procedure.

6. a. After January 1, 2004, any individual who believes that there is, has been, or will be a violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) may, pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section established in compliance with the provisions of section 402 of P.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15512), file a complaint with the Division of Elections in the Department of Law and Public Safety seeking appropriate relief with respect to the violation.

b Each such complaint shall be in writing, and shall be notarized, signed, and sworn by the individual filing the complaint. The Attorney General may consolidate all such complaints if the Attorney General deems it appropriate.

c. (1) If, upon administrative inquiry, the Attorney General determines that there is, has been, or will be a violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.), the Attorney General shall order appropriate relief. The complainant may request a hearing on the record, to be conducted in the manner provided for contested cases pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.); otherwise, the order of the Attorney General shall constitute final agency action on the matter and shall be subject to judicial review as provided in the Rules of Court.

(2) If, upon administrative inquiry, the Attorney General determines that there has been, is or will be no violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C.15481 et seq.), the Attorney General shall reject the claim of the violation and shall so notify the complainant. In that case, the complainant shall be afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the record in the manner provided for contested cases pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). Intervention in this hearing by any other person shall be as provided in the "Administrative Procedure Act." After review of the record of the hearing and the recommendation of the administrative law judge, the Attorney General shall affirm, reject or modify the decision. If, after a hearing, the Attorney General determines that there has been, is or will be a violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.), the Attorney General shall order appropriate relief. If the complainant does not request a hearing following a determination of no violation based upon administrative inquiry or if the Attorney General determines after a hearing that there has been, is or will be no violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.), the Attorney General shall dismiss the complaint and publish the results of the procedures. The decision of the Attorney General shall constitute final agency action on the matter, and shall be subject to judicial review as provided in the Rules of Court.

d. All complaints filed under this section shall be resolved finally by the Attorney General prior to the 90th day after the date that the complaint was filed, unless the complainant consents to a longer period for making such a determination.

e. If the Attorney General fails to meet the 90-day deadline provided in subsection d. of this section, the complaint shall be resolved within 60 days of that deadline under alternative dispute resolution procedures established by the Attorney General for the purpose of this section. The record and other materials from any proceedings conducted under the complaint procedures established under this section shall be made available for use under the alternative dispute resolution procedures.

f. All of the procedures provided for by this section shall be applied uniformly and not in a manner that discriminates in any way against an individual based on that individual's gender, race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

g. An individual who believes that there is, or has been, or will be a violation of any provision of Title III of Pub.L.107-252 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) may, as an alternative to the procedures prescribed in subsections a. through f. of this section, file a complaint in the appropriate Superior Court seeking appropriate relief with respect to the violation. The complaint shall be resolved in an expedited manner.

L.2004,c.88,s.6.