Bill > A3264

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the "New Jersey Eviction Crisis Task Force." The purpose of the task force is to study recent trends in eviction actions against residents of this State, identify the impact of evictions on renters, landlords, local governments, and the State, and make recommendations for legislation and strategies to create more effective and efficient policies regarding housing and evictions in the State. The task force will consider: (1) the causes and consequences of eviction at the State and local level; (2) the prevalence of eviction actions throughout the State; (3) the unmet legal needs of New Jersey residents facing eviction, including the costs associated with legal assistance and any funding mechanisms that may be utilized for the provision of legal assistance; (4) existing laws, rules, or regulations in this State that govern housing in general, and the eviction process in particular; (5) pending legislation in this State that addresses the eviction process; (6) pending legislation and existing programs in other states or jurisdictions that address the eviction crisis in the United States; (7) how affordable housing issues may exacerbate the eviction epidemic in this State; (8) how the eviction crisis may impact rates of homelessness in this State; (9) how the eviction process can be made more transparent, fair, and equitable for both residents and landlords; and (10) any other considerations the task force deems appropriate towards improving the eviction crisis in this State. The task force will be comprised of 23 members as follows: (1) the Commissioners of Community Affairs, Human Services, and Health, and the Attorney General, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; (2) two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who will each be of different political parties; and two members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who will each be of different political parties; (3) two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, including one who is the dean of a law school located in this State; and (4) 13 public members, to be appointed by the Governor no later than the 60th day after the effective date of this bill, as follows: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Apartment Association; one person upon the recommendation of the Fair Share Housing Center; one person upon the recommendation of the Legal Services of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Tenants Organization; one person upon the recommendation of the Bergen County Housing, Health, and Human Services Center; one person upon the recommendation of the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness; one person upon the recommendation of the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey; one person upon the recommendation of Family Promise of New Jersey; and three members of the public who have a demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Community Affairs or the commissioner's designee will serve as chairperson of the task force. The members will service without compensation, but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the task force. The task force may 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. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. The bill directs the Department of Community Affairs to provide staff support to the task force. Finally, the task force is to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature, along with any legislation that it desires to recommend for adoption by the Legislature, no later than 18 months after the date of organization of the task force, at which point the task force will expire.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*,  Shanique Speight (D)*,  Gabriel Rodriguez (D),  Cleopatra Tucker (D), 

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

Official Document