Bill > A739

Introduced Session

This bill would require the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to revise the State Uniform Construction Code to establish certain standards applicable exclusively to seasonal farm labor housing. As used in the bill, "seasonal farm labor housing" refers to a building consisting of housing or sleeping places provided to seasonal workers as part of a farm labor camp, regulated pursuant to the Seasonal Farm Labor Act, P.L.1945, c.71 (C.34:9A-1 et seq.). The bill requires the standards established by the commissioner to be adopted by rule and regulation, and requires that seasonal farm labor housing would: 1) not be occupied for more than 180 days in a year unless the housing meets standards established in the State Uniform Construction Code for non-seasonal, permanent housing;2) contain sleeping places exclusively on the first floor; 3) have an occupant load limit of 50 people, which may be increased to 100 people depending on the positioning of egress doors; 4) have not less than two means of egress; 5) be equipped with hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms;6) have hard-wired carbon monoxide alarms installed if a fuel-burning appliance is within the building or if garage facilities are attached; 7) have a fire extinguisher located within 50 feet of any point in the building; 8) prohibit cooking operations unless a hood fixture complies with the mechanical subcode; 9) have temporary or permanent bathroom facilities located within 200 feet of the building; and 10) be required to obtain a certificate of occupancy on an annual basis. The bill would take effect on the first day of the sixth month next following enactment, except that the commissioner would be permitted to take such anticipatory action as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Mike Torrissi (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document