Bill Text: NJ A3627 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes veterans' preference for affordable housing in certain housing projects.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-09-15 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee [A3627 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A3627-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman VINCENT MAZZEO
District 2 (Atlantic)
Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI
District 33 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman DONNA M. SIMON
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen DeAngelo, McKeon, Wilson, Diegnan, Assemblywomen Lampitt and Tucker
SYNOPSIS
Establishes veterans' preference for affordable housing in certain housing projects.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning affordable housing occupancy preferences for veterans and related individuals, supplementing P.L.1979, c.275 (C.40:37A-106 et seq.) and P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et al.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Disabled veteran" means any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who has been or shall be declared by the United States Veterans Administration, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability.; and
"Veteran" means any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, or any honorably discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits.
b. In addition to any other federal or State law regarding providing a veteran's affordable housing preference, the authority shall establish rules and regulations to provide a preference for affordable housing in a housing project, as defined under subsection f. of section 2 of P.L.1979, c.275 (C.40:37A-107), to homeless veterans, disabled veterans, and family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them. All applicants for the housing preference as specified herein shall also be required to meet the income requirements for admission to the housing project.
c. Among applicants eligible to receive a housing project preference provided under subsection a. of this section, priority for the preference shall be given to applicants as follows: (1) homeless veterans shall receive first priority; (2) disabled veterans shall receive second priority; and (3) family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them shall receive third priority.
2. a. As used in this section:
"Disabled veteran" means any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who has been or shall be declared by the United States Veterans Administration, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability.; and
"Veteran" means any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, or any honorably discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits.
b. In addition to any other federal or State law regarding providing a veteran's affordable housing preference, the municipality, county, or housing authority shall establish rules and regulations to provide a preference for affordable housing in a housing project to homeless veterans, disabled veterans, and family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them. All applicants for the housing preference as specified herein shall also be required to meet the income requirements for admission to the housing project.
c. Among applicants eligible to receive a housing project preference provided under subsection a. of this section, priority for the preference shall be given to applicants as follows: (1) homeless veterans shall receive first priority; (2) disabled veterans shall receive second priority; and (3) family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them shall receive third priority.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill, modeled after Pennsylvania's Senate Bill No.1135 of 2014, establishes a veterans' preference for affordable housing in housing projects. Under the provisions of the bill, preference for these affordable housing units shall be given to homeless veterans, disabled veterans, and family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them. Priority for the preference shall be first given to homeless veterans, then to disabled veterans, and then to family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them. Regardless of priority status, all applicants for the housing preference shall also be required to meet the income requirements for admission to the housing project.
