NJ Lawmakers Pass Port Authority Open Records Bill

Sen Loretta Weinberg with quote on PANYNJ reform

New Jersey Law Journal
June 26, 2015
by Michael Booth
(full article here)

The New Jersey Legislature on June 25 passed legislation that would require the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to comply with laws in both states that are designed to make its records more accessible to the public.

The bill, S2183, which had wide bipartisan support, passed in the Senate by a 40-0 vote. It passed in the Assembly in a 75-0 vote later that day. It now goes to Gov. Chris Christie for consideration.

The legislation would require the Port Authority to comply with New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act and New York’s Freedom of Information Law.

The bill, primarily sponsored by Sens. Robert Gordon and Loretta Weinberg, both D-Bergen, had passed both houses of the Legislature last year but was conditionally vetoed by Christie.

Christie supported the ideals of the measure, calling them “sensible,” but said the bill, as originally worded, would have required New Jersey courts to interpret New York law and New York courts to interpret New Jersey law if there were lawsuits.

By classifying the Port Authority as an “agency” under New York law and as a “public agency” under New Jersey law, that problem could be avoided, he said in his veto statement.

The version passed by the Legislature on June 25 adopted Christie’s proposed changes.

Continue reading here.