N.J. Admin. Code § 1:1-18.1 : ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE RULES — INITIAL DECISION; EXCEPTIONS; FINAL DECISION; REMAND; EXTENSIONS OF TIME LIMITS —18.1 - Initial decision in contested cases

(a) Except as provided in 1:1-18.9, when a case is not heard directly by an agency head, the judge shall issue an initial decision which shall be based exclusively on:
1. The testimony, documents, and arguments accepted by the judge for consideration in rendering a decision;
2. Stipulations; and
3. Matters officially noticed.
(b) The initial decision shall be final in form and fully dispositive of all issues in the case.
(c) At the judge's discretion, an initial decision or recommended report may be filed in the form of a checklist in appropriate cases as prescribed by the Director after consultation with the applicable State agency.
(d) No substantive finding of fact or conclusion of law, nor any concluding order or other disposition shall be binding upon the agency head, unless otherwise provided by statute.
(e) All initial decisions shall be issued and received by the agency head no later than 45 days after the hearing is concluded unless an earlier time frame is mandated by Federal or State law.
(f) In mediations successfully concluded by initial decision, the decision shall be issued and received by the agency head as soon as practicable after the mediation, but in no event later than 45 days thereafter.
(g) Within 10 days after the initial decision is filed with the agency head, the Clerk shall certify the entire record with original exhibits to the agency head.
(h) Upon filing of an initial decision with the transmitting agency, the Office of Administrative Law relinquishes jurisdiction over the case, except for matters referred to in 1:1-3.2(c)1 through 5.

N.J. Admin. Code § 1:1-18.1

Amended by47 N.J.R. 1309(a), Effective 6/15/2015