Bill Text: NJ A745 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits county agency from arranging for emergency shelter services to be provided in different county, unless counties agree.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee [A745 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A745-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN DIMAIO
District 23 (Warren and Hunterdon)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits county agency from arranging for emergency shelter services to be provided in different county, unless counties agree.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning emergency assistance and amending and supplementing P.L.1997, c.14.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 8 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-51) is amended to read as follows:
8. a. Emergency assistance shall be provided only to recipients of Work First New Jersey and persons receiving Supplemental Security Income pursuant to P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.) in emergent situations, as determined by the commissioner, for up to 12 cumulative months; except that:
(1) the commissioner may provide for an extension of emergency assistance for up to six additional months to an assistance unit with dependent children, if the commissioner determines that a case of extreme hardship exists. The commissioner shall review each such case on a monthly basis during the six-month period and shall continue the emergency assistance only if the commissioner determines, based upon the monthly review, that the extreme hardship continues to exist. If the extreme hardship continues to exist at the end of the six-month period, the commissioner may provide an additional six months of emergency assistance to no more than 10% of those assistance units with dependent children which are receiving temporary rental assistance under the emergency assistance component of the program, based upon the most current data available; and
(2) the commissioner may provide for an extension of emergency assistance for up to six additional months to no more than 10% of single adults and couples without dependent children who are receiving temporary rental assistance under the emergency assistance component of the program, if the commissioner determines that a case of extreme hardship exists. The commissioner shall review each such case on a monthly basis during the six-month period and shall continue the emergency assistance only if the commissioner determines, based upon the monthly review, that the extreme hardship continues to exist.
Any form of emergency assistance provided pursuant to this section shall count toward the maximum period of emergency assistance allowed.
b. A person receiving emergency assistance shall contribute from the person's income toward the payment of all emergency shelter arrangements, including temporary housing and temporary rental assistance, in accordance with regulations adopted by the commissioner. As a condition of receipt of emergency assistance, a person shall be required to take all reasonable steps to end the person's dependency on emergency assistance and take all other actions required by the commissioner.
c. The commissioner shall adopt regulations to establish classifications for hotel or motel per diem rates in accordance with the level of enhanced services provided at a participating hotel or motel.
d. The provisions of this section shall apply to a person who receives general public assistance pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.) after the effective date of this act and is subsequently transferred directly into the Work First New Jersey program.
e. A county agency shall not arrange for emergency assistance shelter services to be provided in a county different from the county in which the agency is located, unless both counties otherwise agree to such arrangement.
(cf: P.L.1997, c.14, s.8)
2. (New section) A county agency that provides emergency shelter services under the Social Services for the Homeless program or any other program shall not arrange for emergency shelter services to be provided in a county different from the county in which the agency is located, unless both counties otherwise agree to such arrangement.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends N.J.S.A.44:10-51, which pertains to emergency assistance supportive services provided by the Work First New Jersey program, to prohibit a county agency from arranging for emergency assistance shelter services (housing in shelters, hotels or motels) to be provided in a county different from the county in which the agency is located, unless both counties otherwise agree to such arrangement.
Similarly, the bill prohibits a county agency that provides emergency shelter (housing in shelters, hotels or motels) under the Social Services for the Homeless program or any other program from arranging for emergency shelter services to be provided in a county different from the county in which the agency is located, unless both counties otherwise agree to such arrangement.
