New Jersey § 52:27g-7

§ 52:27g-7.

a. The office shall establish and implement procedures for eliciting, receiving, processing,

responding to , and resolving complaints from patients, residents , or clients of facilities, the relatives or guardians of such persons, or from interested

citizens, public officials, or government agencies having an interest in the matter. The office shall ensure that a system is in place to receive complaints 24 hours per

day, seven days per week, whether or not live staff members are available to receive

the complaint. b. When the office receives a complaint or otherwise encounters a deficiency that

pertains to a violation of a resident's rights or compliance with State or federal laws or regulations or rules administered by any government agency, it shall make

referral thereof directly to the appropriate government agency for action pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations . c. When the complaint received or the investigation conducted by the office discloses

facts that it determines constitute a violation of a resident's rights or warrant the institution of civil proceedings by a government agency against any person or

government agency, the matter shall be referred to the government agency with authority

to institute such proceedings pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations . d. When the complaint received or the investigation conducted by the office reveals

information in relation to a violation of a resident's rights or the misconduct or breach of duty of any officer or employee of a facility or a government

agency, it shall refer the matter to the appropriate authorities for such action as

may be necessary pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations . e. When the complaint received or the investigation conducted by the office discloses

information or facts indicating the commission of criminal offenses or violations

of standards of professional conduct, it shall refer the matter, as appropriate, to

the Attorney General, county prosecutor, or any other law enforcement official that

has jurisdiction to prosecute the crime, or to the professional licensing board concerned. f. The government agency, prosecuting agency , or professional licensing board, as the case may be in this section, shall report

to the office on its findings and actions with respect to all such referrals within

30 days after receipt thereof and every 30 days thereafter until final action on each

such referral. The office shall monitor all such referrals and responses and maintain a record

thereof. The office shall be authorized to make disclosure of such information as appropriate

and as may be necessary to resolve the matter referred. g. In the event that the complaint of a patient, resident , or client or class of patients, residents , or clients of a facility or facilities cannot be resolved satisfactorily through

negotiation with the facility or the appropriate government agency or that an act,

practice, policy , or procedure of a facility or government agency does or may adversely affect the

health, safety, welfare , or civil or human rights of a patient , resident , or client or class of patients, residents , or clients of a facility or facilities the office may recommend to the appropriate

authorities civil litigation on behalf of such patient, resident , or client or class of patients, residents , or clients as it deems appropriate. The office may institute actions for injunctive relief or civil damages.