Bill Text: NJ A4105 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-01-16 - Approved P.L.2023, c.307. [A4105 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4105-Amended.html
[Second Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 4105
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JUNE 2, 2022
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman ANGELICA M. JIMENEZ
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Atkins, Sampson, Danielsen, Assemblywomen Park, Jasey, Mosquera and McKnight
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Interagency Council on Homelessness.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on December 14, 2023, with amendments.
An Act concerning homelessness prevention, and amending and supplementing P.L.2019, c.73.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2019, c.73 (C.52:27D-287.6) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest for State policymakers, providers of services to people who are homeless, advocacy organizations, and other concerned representatives of the public to engage in an intensive collaborative effort to1:1 seek to devise more effective means of coordinating among various State and local initiatives that provide assistance to persons who are homeless or at risk of being homeless; 2[to]2 identify public and private sources of funding for programs to meet the needs of persons within New Jersey who are homeless or at risk for homelessness 1to ensure the equitable distribution of resources1; and 2[to]2 develop more permanent housing solutions 1, including supportive housing,1 for this population.
b. There is established the ["New Jersey Homelessness Prevention Task Force."] "Interagency Council on Homelessness" in 2, but not of,2 the 2[1[Governor's]1 Office 1of the Governor1] Department of Community Affairs2 . The purpose of the [task force] council shall be to 2:2 serve as an advisory body to the Office of Homelessness Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs 2[, to] ;2 develop recommendations, through an intensive collaborative effort among representatives of State government, providers of services to the homeless, advocacy organizations, and other concerned representatives of the public 2[, and to] ;2 develop, promote, and support efforts for the most effective means of coordinating among various State and local initiatives that provide assistance to persons who are homeless or at risk of being homeless; 2[to]2 identify public and private sources of funding for programs to meet the various needs of persons within this State who are homeless or at risk for homelessness; and 2[to]2 develop more permanent housing solutions for this population.
c. The [task force] council shall consist of [15] 1[26] 241 members including the Governor, or a designee of the Office of the Governor, the Director of the Office of Homelessness Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs, 1[or the director's designee, the [Director of the Division of Family Development in the Department] Commissioner of Human Services, or the [director's] commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, or the commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Corrections, or the commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or the commissioner's designee, executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, or the executive director's designee, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, or the Adjutant General's designee] the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Health, Human Services, Labor and Workforce Development, and Transportation, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military Affairs, the Attorney General, the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, and the Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, or their designees1, and [13] 1[15] nine1 members, who [shall be appointed by the Governor] may be government officials 1[or members of the public]1 with a demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the council, which expertise may include but shall not be limited to, the provision of shelter, behavioral health care, and mental health care, 1or members of the public, at least two of whom who have experienced homelessness or housing instability, and at least two of whom have demonstrated expertise in issues relating to affordable housing development,1 and of whom, no later than the 60th day after the effective date of [P.L.2019, c.73 (C.52:27D-287.5 et al.), and who may be government officials or members of the public with a demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force] P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), 1[five] three1 members shall be appointed by the Governor, 1[five] three1 members shall be appointed by the Senate President, and 1[five] three1 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.
d. The Director of the Office of Homelessness Prevention, or the director's designee, shall serve as chairperson of the [task force] council. The [task force] council shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and shall select a vice-chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the [task force] council.
e. The public members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the [task force] council.
f. The [task force] council shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.
g. The [task force] council may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature.
h. The Department of Community Affairs shall provide staff support to the [task force] council.
i. Vacancies in the membership of the [task force] council shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments.
2j. The council shall prepare an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and shall submit the report to the Governor and to the Legislature in accordance with the requirements of section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).2
(cf: P.L.2019, c.73, s.2)
2. (New section) The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall notify the members of the New Jersey Homelessness Prevention Task Force established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2019, c.73 (C.52:27D-287.6) of the termination of the task force, and otherwise provide for the transfer or other disposition of the records, property, and personnel of New Jersey Homelessness Prevention Task Force to the Interagency Council on Homelessness.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
