Authorizes Government Records Council to use annual appropriations to employ staff attorneys exclusively to assist council in handling complaints.

This bill (A2816) allows New Jersey's Government Records Council (GRC) to use annual state funds to hire staff attorneys exclusively for handling public records complaints. It directly affects the GRC, which adjudicates disputes when government agencies deny public access to records, and the public who file such complaints. The key provision authorizes the GRC to employ these attorneys to review, hear, and resolve complaints about denied record access, addressing a backlog noted in a state comptroller report. The bill also requires the GRC to consider resource needs when requesting its annual budget.