N.J. Admin. Code § 1:31-1.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 1:31-1.1 - Functions of the Office

(a) The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) created by statute in 1978, is independent of any executive department, board, division, commission, agency, council, authority, office, or officer of the State of New Jersey. The OAL performs four major functions:

1. Conducts contested case hearings, as provided in 52:14B-10 and 52:14F-8, and with the consent of the Director conducts other administrative hearings if requested by an agency head. In general, the Office of Administrative Law acquires contested case jurisdiction over a matter after an agency head determines that a contested case exists and subsequently files the case with the OAL, as provided in N.J.A.C. 1:1-1;

2. Promulgates rules for the conduct of contested case hearings. Rules are promulgated to assist judges, attorneys, and contested case parties by clarifying legal requirements;

3. Supervises, coordinates and records rulemaking proceedings within the Executive Branch. Under the authority of 52:14F-5(f), the OAL oversees agency compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act (52:14B-1 et seq. and 52:14F-1 et seq.) and through N.J.A.C. 1:30-1 has established standards to guide agency rulemaking.

4. Publishes the New Jersey Register and the New Jersey Administrative Code and makes copies of initial decisions available through the Rutgers Newark School of Law website njlaw.rutgers.edu. The publication function of the OAL is multifaceted:

i. Publication of proposed rules in the New Jersey Register gives an interested person an opportunity to comment and object;

ii. Publication of adopted rules in both the New Jersey Register and New Jersey Administrative Code provides a ready, updated reference to State agency rules; and

iii. Availability of decisions in contested cases provides the public with access to administrative adjudications.

N.J. Admin. Code § 1:31-1.1

Amended by47 N.J.R. 1314(a), Effective 6/15/2015