NJ S4046

Creates the New Jersey Justice Center for the Protection of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities within the Department of Human Services, headed by a Governor-appointed Executive Director confirmed by the Senate

Establishes a special prosecutor and inspector general appointed by the Governor with authority to investigate and prosecute abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including power to apply for search warrants and appear before grand juries

Houses the Central Registry of Offenders Against Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and handles all functions related to receiving abuse/neglect allegations, investigating them, and reviewing substantiated findings

Creates a 15-member Medical Review Board appointed by the Governor to investigate deaths of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in department programs that appear to result from other than natural causes, with authority to order autopsies

Requires development of uniform codes of conduct for direct care staff, training curricula on reporting and preventing abuse, and annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on investigation results, corrective actions, and trends