A. Adjudications by administrative bodies.

Pursuant to the New Jersey Administrative Practice and Procedure Act, all contested matters before a state administrative agency are required to be referred to an administrative law judge for a hearing and a recommendation, report and decision. N.J.S.A. 52:14B-10(c). All evidentiary hearings, proceedings on motions and other applications before the administrative law judge are public, unless otherwise provided by statute, rule or regulation, or on order of the judge for good cause. N.J.A.C. 1:1-14.1. The principal statutory and regulatory exceptions to the public hearing requirement are in special education cases and in cases involving the Department of Human Services. Within 45 days of the hearing, the judge must issue a written report and decision, including recommended findings of fact and conclusions of law, to the administrative agency. N.J.S.A. 52: 14B-10(c). The head of the administrative agency or, in the case of a collective public body such as a commission, authority or board, the entire public body, then must issue a written decision adopting, rejecting or modifying the judge's decision.