30:4-34 County adjuster for commitment of persons with mental illness.

30:4-34. In each county where county counsel, county solicitor, county clerk, county physician or county probation officer, or any of their assistants is in charge and supervision of the preparation of papers relating to the commitment of persons with mental illness, such person shall be known as "county adjuster" and such duties shall, except as otherwise provided in section 2 of P.L.1981, c.403 (C.30:4-34.1), continue to pertain to the office of such county counsel, county solicitor, county clerk, county physician or county probation officer or their successors in office, but, notwithstanding the foregoing, in case any other county official or employee shall be at the time of the adoption of this act, in charge and supervision of the preparation of papers relating to the commitment of persons with mental illness, the governing body of the county may designate that county official or employee as county adjuster. In all other counties the county governing body shall designate some county official or employee as county adjuster.

The county adjuster shall have charge and supervision of the preparation of papers relating to the commitment of persons with mental illness in such county, and in cases arising in other counties in which the legal settlement appears to be in his county. Classification under civil service rules shall not be affected by reason of such designation or additional duties, and additional compensation, if any, for such services may be fixed by the county governing body and paid in the same manner as other county employees are paid. Each county governing body shall notify the various institutions for persons with mental illness of the name and address of the county adjuster.

The judge of the Superior Court within the county may appoint the county adjuster to act as referee for the purpose of taking testimony bearing solely on the question of legal settlement and the financial ability of the person with mental illness or the parent of the person with mental illness, if the person is under the age of 18, to pay the cost of maintenance, in accordance with the provisions of R.S.30:4-60, and shall make return to the court of his findings, conclusions and recommendations. Such findings, conclusions and recommendations shall be subject to the approval of the court and shall not be effective until incorporated in an appropriate order or judgment of the court. The county adjuster, acting as such referee, may subpena witnesses and compel their attendance on forms approved by the court.

Amended 1953, c.29, s.12; 1954, c.167; 1965, c.59, s.28; 1981, c.403, s.1; 1995, c.155, s.9; 1998, c.92; 2005, c.55, s.2.