Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRISTOPHER P. DEPHILLIPS
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support programming to address family homelessness.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning voluntary contributions through gross income tax returns to support programming that assists families at risk for or experiencing homelessness and supplementing chapter 9 of Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of the Treasury a special fund to be known as the "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund."
b. Each taxpayer shall have the opportunity to indicate on the taxpayer's New Jersey gross income tax return that a portion of the taxpayer's refund or an enclosed contribution shall be deposited into the special fund.
c. Any costs incurred by the Division of Taxation for collection or administration attributable to this section may be deducted from receipts collected pursuant to this section, as determined by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting. The State Treasurer shall deposit net contributions collected pursuant to this section into the "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund."
d. The Legislature shall annually appropriate all monies deposited into the "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund" established pursuant to this section for distribution to the Family Promise national organization for allocation to each of the independently-run local affiliates operating in the State of New Jersey to support New Jersey families at risk for or experiencing homelessness, including homelessness prevention services, emergency shelter services, and housing stabilization services.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund to support New Jersey families that are at risk for or experiencing homelessness.
Under the bill, the State would be required to annually appropriate the amounts deposited into the "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund" to the Family Promise national organization for allocation to each of the independently-run local affiliates operating in the State of New Jersey. Family Promise is a 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization which provides services in the State of New Jersey through a network of independently-run local affiliates throughout the State. The "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund" is meant to support the Family Promise New Jersey affiliates in their mission to coordinate local efforts that bring communities together to help families experiencing homelessness regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity. Family Promise programming directly addresses family homelessness and primarily includes homelessness prevention services, emergency shelter services, and housing stabilization services.