Bill Text: NJ A4139 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Modifies certain State and county-funded rental assistance programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-20 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee [A4139 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A4139-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Modifies certain State and county-funded rental assistance programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning State rental assistance programs, amending P.L.2004, c.140 and P.L.2009, c.123.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall establish a rental assistance program for low income individuals or households. This program shall be in addition to and supplement any existing programs established pursuant to the "Prevention of Homelessness Act (1984)," P.L.1984, c.180 (C.52:27D-280 et al.).
a. The program shall provide rental assistance grants comparable to the federal section 8 program, but shall be available only to State residents who are not currently holders of federal section 8 vouchers. The grants shall be issued to qualified low income individuals or households in the form of rental assistance vouchers. The department shall establish a list of vacant rental units available to low income residents, arranged by county, and post the list on its website. A landlord may submit a vacant unit to the department for inclusion on the list. The commissioner shall coordinate with a county that has established a County Homelessness Trust Fund, pursuant to P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et. seq.), to identify potential tenants and rental units.
b. Assistance to an individual or household under the State program shall be terminated upon the award of federal section 8 rental assistance to the same individual or household.
c. The program shall reserve a portion of the grants for assistance to senior citizens aged 62 or older who otherwise meet the criteria of subsection a. of this section.
d. The program shall reserve a portion of the grants for assistance to veterans who have successfully completed the Veterans Transitional Housing Program, or "Veterans Haven," a vocational and transitional housing program for homeless veterans administered by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.237, s.1)
2. Section 3 of P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.3) is amended to read as follows:
3. The commissioner shall annually allocate from the receipts of the portion of the realty transfer fee directed to be credited to the Neighborhood Preservation Nonlapsing Revolving Fund pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1968, c.49 (C.46:15-8) and pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1975, c.176 (C.46:15-10.1) such amounts as may be necessary to fund rental assistance grants authorized by P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.1 et al.), provided that not less than $3 million be annually allocated for the purposes of subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.1) and not less than $7 million be annually allocated for the purposes of subsection a. and subsection d. of section 1 of P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.1) for use exclusively to provide rental assistance vouchers to eligible veterans and low income individuals and households.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.208, s.2)
3. Section 7 of P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287g) is amended to read as follows:
7. A county may collaborate with any other county that has established a County Homelessness Trust Fund to provide joint funding for projects permitted under P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et al.). A county or counties, as appropriate, may coordinate with the Commissioner of Community Affairs to identify low income individuals or households who may be eligible for State rental assistance vouchers pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.1).
(cf: P.L.2009, c.123, s.7)
4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Department of Community Affairs to ensure that State Rental Assistance Program funds allocated for distributed to low income individuals or households are used solely for that purpose. The bill would also require the Department of Community Affairs to create a list, arranged by county, of rental units that are available for rent by low income tenants. The landlord of a rental unit available for rent by a low income tenant may submit a unit to the Department of Community Affairs for listing on the DCA website. Finally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Community affairs to coordinate with counties that have established a County Homelessness Trust Fund pursuant to P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et seq.) in identifying low income tenants and rental units available for rent by the low income tenants.
It is the sponsor's intent that the bill would provide increased opportunity for low income individuals and households to utilize existing State and county rental assistance programs while assisting landlords in filling vacant rental units.
