Bill > S2346

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program called "Code Red alerts" to protect at-risk individuals, defined as those living outdoors or in poorly insulated settings who are vulnerable to extreme weather, during periods of extreme heat or poor air quality. The program will be administered by the Department of Community Affairs, and five counties with the highest documented homeless populations will be eligible to participate, receiving a $500,000 grant each to develop and implement a plan. This plan will involve coordinating with municipalities, social service agencies, and non-profit organizations to establish emergency cooling centers, provide transportation, and conduct outreach to vulnerable populations. A Code Red alert will be declared by a county coordinator when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or reports an Air Quality Index of 151 or higher, with the county coordinator monitoring the municipality with the highest homeless population to guide this decision. The bill also appropriates $2.5 million to the Department of Community Affairs to fund the pilot program and includes provisions that extend liability protections to entities involved in carrying out Code Red alert plans, similar to protections for civil defense activities.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S2346