Directs use of 21st Century Improvement Fund to establish individualized account access system.

A4254

ASSEMBLY, No. 4254

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Directs use of 21st Century Improvement Fund to
establish individualized account access system.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning e-court programs and amending P.L. 2014,
c.31.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 12 of P.L.2014,
c. 31(C.2B:1-7) is amended to read as follows:

���� 12.� a.� The Supreme Court,
subject to the limitations set forth in subsection b. of this section, may
adopt Rules of Court to revise or supplement filing fees and other statutory
fees payable to the court for the sole purpose of funding:

���� (1)�� the development,
maintenance and administration of a Statewide Pretrial Services Program;

���� (2)�� the development,
maintenance and administration of a Statewide digital e-court information
system; and

���� (3)�� the provision to the
poor of legal assistance in civil matters by Legal Services of New Jersey and
its affiliates.

���� b.��� All existing filing fees
and other statutory fees payable to the court on the effective date of this
section shall not be increased or supplemented more than $50 in the aggregate
for each fee beginning on the effective date of this section.

���� c.���� As used in sections 12
through 19 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-7 through C.2B:1-13):

���� "Digital e-court
information system" shall mean a Statewide integrated system that includes
but is not limited to electronic filing, electronic service of process,
electronic document management, electronic case management, electronic
financial management, and public access to digital court records
and court
matters generally, including an individualized account access and notification
system for individuals using email addresses and telephone numbers about
pending court matters including but not limited to violations and court dates
;
and

���� "Pretrial Services
Program" shall mean the pretrial services program established pursuant to
section 11 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-25).

(cf: P.L.2014, c.31, s.12)

���� 2.��� Section 15 of P.L.2014,
c. 31(C.2B:1-10) is amended to read as follows:

���� 15.� Monies annually credited
in the "21st Century Justice Improvement Fund" shall be allocated as
follows:

���� a.���� $22 million credited
annually to the fund shall be appropriated annually to the Judiciary to be used
to fund the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide Pretrial
Services Program established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-25);

���� b.��� $10 million credited
annually to the fund shall be appropriated annually to the Judiciary to be used
to fund the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide digital
e-court information system
, which shall include an individualized account
access and notification system for individuals using email addresses and
telephone numbers about pending court matters including but not limited to violations
and court dates
.� An appropriation made pursuant to this subsection shall
not be used to replace appropriations from other sources for Judiciary
information technology; and

���� c.���� $10.1 million credited
annually to the fund shall be appropriated annually to the Department of the
Treasury for distribution to Legal Services of New Jersey and its affiliates to
facilitate the provision to the poor of legal assistance in civil matters,
which shall supplement other funds as may be appropriated from any other source
in a fiscal year for the same purpose.� All State funds distributed to Legal
Services of New Jersey shall be used exclusively for the provision to the poor
of legal assistance in civil matters.

���� d.��� Any amount remaining in
the fund after the appropriation of funds as provided in subsections a., b.,
and c. of this section shall be retained by the Judiciary for the purpose of
developing, maintaining, and administering the Pretrial Services Program or for
court information technology. The monies credited to the fund shall not be used
for any purpose other than those purposes set forth in this section and section
14 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-9).

(cf: P.L.2014, c.31, s.15)

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� The 21
st
Century
Improvement Fund, section 14 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-9), is a dedicated,
nonlapsing fund annually credited with a sum equal to the yearly revenue
derived from the incremental amounts of certain� fees payable to the court.�
One of the dedicated purposes of the fund is the development, maintenance and
administration of the Statewide digital e-court information system.� Presently,
the e-court system broadly includes public access to digital court matters.�
This bill would expand the public access function to include access to court
matters generally, including an individualized account access and notification
system for individuals using email addresses and telephone numbers about
pending court matters including but not limited to violations and court dates.�

���� The bill further amends
section 14 of P.L.2014. c.31 (C.2B:1-10) to ensure that a portion of the funds
allocated for the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide
digital e-court information system shall be used for expanded purposes.

���� It is the sponsor�s view that
enhanced notification technology can lead to increased access and accessibility
to the court system which, in turn, can prevent such issues as missed court
dates and failure to settle matters, arrests, warrant issues and arrests for
individuals. �The use of notification technology is used in such areas as
online banking and notifications about health and self-care appointments, and should
be available to individuals involved at all levels the justice system.