2A:32C-9 Immunity from civil liability; limitations on bringing an action.

9. a. No member of the Legislature, a member of the Judiciary, a senior Executive branch official, or a member of a county or municipal governing body may be civilly liable if the basis for an action is premised on evidence or information known to the State when the action was brought. For purposes of this subsection, the term "senior Executive branch official" means any person employed in the Executive branch of government holding a position having substantial managerial, policy-influencing or policy-executing responsibilities.

b. A person may not bring an action under this act based upon allegations or transactions that are the subject of a pending action or administrative proceeding to which the State is already a party.

c. No action brought under this act shall be based upon the public disclosure of allegations or transactions in a criminal, civil, or administrative hearing, in an investigation, report, hearing or audit conducted by or at the request of the Legislature or by the news media, unless the action is brought by the Attorney General, or unless the person bringing the action is an original source of the information. For purposes of this subsection, the term "original source" means an individual who has direct and independent knowledge of the information on which the allegations are based and has voluntarily provided the information to the State before filing an action under this act based on the information.

d. No action may be brought under this act by a present or former employee or agent of the State or any political subdivision thereof when the action is based upon information discovered in any civil, criminal or administrative investigation or audit which investigation or audit was within the scope of the employee's or agent's duties or job description.

L.2007, c.265, s.9; amended 2009, c.265, s.3.