New Jersey § 30:1aa-9

§ 30:1aa-9.

a. The duties of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental

Disabilities and their Families shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) to serve as a source of information for individuals with intellectual or developmental

disabilities and their families and interested members of the public, to help them

better understand State and federal laws and regulations governing individuals with

intellectual or developmental disabilities; (2) to provide, in coordination with the State Council on Developmental Disabilities: (a) information and support to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities

and their families in navigating and understanding the process for obtaining services

and supports from the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of

Human Services and the Division of Children's System of Care in the Department of

Children and Families, including information and support regarding individuals who

transition from receiving services and supports from the Division of Children's System

of Care to receiving services and supports from the Division of Developmental Disabilities;

and (b) assistance to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in obtaining

from the Division of Children's System of Care or the Division of Developmental Disabilities,

as appropriate, services, supports, and opportunities that focus on personal goals

and help those goals become a reality; (3) to provide information and communication strategies to individuals with intellectual

or developmental disabilities and their families for resolving a disagreement with

the Division of Children's System of Care, the Division of Developmental Disabilities,

the Department of Children and Families, or the Department of Human Services regarding

the evaluation, placement, or provision of services and supports to an individual

with an intellectual or developmental disability; and to educate individuals with

intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families on the available options

for resolving such disputes; (4) to work neutrally and objectively with all parties to help ensure that a fair

process is followed in the resolution of disputes concerning the provision of services

and supports to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities receiving

services from the Division of Children's System of Care or the Division of Developmental

Disabilities, as appropriate; (5) to identify any patterns of complaints that emerge regarding rights and services

of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and to recommend strategies

for improvement to the Division of Children's System of Care and the Division of Developmental

Disabilities or the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Human

Services; and (6) to assist the Division of Children's System of Care and the Division of Developmental

Disabilities in creating public information programs designed to acquaint and educate

individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, their families, and the

public about the duties of the ombudsman. b. The ombudsman shall treat communications received in the course of the ombudsman's

duties, including personally identifiable information regarding individuals with intellectual

or developmental disabilities and their families, and others from whom information

is acquired, as confidential, except when disclosure is necessary to enable the ombudsman

to perform the duties of the office and consent for disclosure is obtained. Upon receipt of information that by law is confidential or privileged, the ombudsman

shall maintain the confidentiality of the information and shall not disclose or disseminate

the information except as provided by applicable State or federal law.