52:27G-14. No reprisals

a. No discriminatory, disciplinary or retaliatory action shall be taken against any officer or employee of a facility or government agency by such facility or government agency or against any patient, resident, or client of a facility or guardian or family member thereof, or volunteer, for any communication by him with the office or for any information given or disclosed by him in good faith to aid the office in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates the provisions of this subsection by instituting discriminatory, disciplinary or retaliatory action against any officer or employee of a facility or government agency or against any patient, resident or client of a facility or guardian or family member thereof, or volunteer, for any communication by him with the office or for any information given or disclosed by him in good faith to aid the office in carrying out its duties and responsibilities is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

b. Any person who willfully hinders the lawful actions of the office or willfully refuses to comply with its lawful demands, including the demand of immediate entry into and inspection of a facility or government agency or the demand of immediate access to a patient, resident or client thereof, or who offers any compensation, gratuity, or promise thereof to the office in an effort to affect the outcome of any matter which is being investigated, or is likely to be investigated shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $5,000.00. Such penalty shall be collected and enforced by summary proceedings pursuant to "the penalty enforcement law" (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.) upon complaint of the office or any other person. Each violation of this act shall constitute a separate offense.

c. The office may bring suit in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any of the powers enumerated in this act.

d. When a person has been penalized under this section, a letter making note of the penalty shall immediately be sent by the court to the licensing authority or the professional board, if any, having jurisdiction over the person who has been penalized.

L. 1977, c. 239, s.14; amended by L. 1987, c. 104, s. 1.