52:27G-5. Duties and powers

The ombudsman, as administrator and chief executive officer of the office, shall:

a. Administer and organize the work of the office and establish therein such administrative subdivisions as he may deem necessary, proper and expedient. He may formulate and adopt rules and regulations and prescribe duties for the efficient conduct of the business, work and general administration of the office. He may delegate to subordinate officers or employees in the office such of his power as he may deem desirable to be exercised under his supervision and control;

b. Appoint and remove such stenographic, clerical and other secretarial assistants as may be required for the proper conduct of the office, subject to the provisions of Title 11 (Civil Service) of the Revised Statutes, and other applicable statutes, and within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available therefor. In addition, and within such funding limits, the ombudsman may appoint, retain or employ, without regard to the provisions of the said Title 11 (Civil Service), or any other statutes, such officers, investigators, experts, consultants or other professionally qualified personnel on a contract basis or otherwise as he deems necessary.

c. Appoint and employ, notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1944, c. 20 (C. 52:17A-1 et seq.), a general counsel and such other attorneys or counsel as he may require, for the purpose, among other things, of providing legal advice on such matters as the ombudsman may from time to time require, of attending to and dealing with all litigation, controversies and legal matters in which the office may be a party or in which its rights and interests may be involved, and of representing the office in all proceedings or actions of any kind which may be brought for or against it in any court of this State. With respect to all of the foregoing, such counsel and attorneys shall be independent of any supervision or control by the Attorney General or by the Department of Law and Public Safety, or by any division or officer thereof;

d. Have authority to adopt and promulgate pursuant to law such rules and regulations as he deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this act;

e. Maintain suitable headquarters for the office and such other quarters as he shall deem necessary to the proper functioning of the office;

f. Solicit and accept grants of funds from the Federal Government and from other public and any private sources for any of the purposes of this act; provided, however, that any such funds shall be expended only pursuant to an appropriation made by law;

g. Perform such other functions as may be prescribed in this act or by any other law.

L.1977, c. 239, s. 5, eff. Sept. 29, 1977.