Bill > S2467

Introduced Session

This bill provides funding for the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation (division) in the Department of Community Affairs (department) to disburse as awards to eligible property owners, renters, and vehicle owners impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Under the bill, an "eligible property owner" is defined as an individual or household that is qualified to receive Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds because their primary residence on September 1, 2021 was in New Jersey and whose real or personal property was damaged as a result of the remnants of Hurricane Ida. For tenant renters, damages are to be established from FEMA or other evidence of at least one-foot of flood damage, or $100 worth of damage, as determined by the division. For owner-occupied real property, an eligible property owner is required to establish damages through a document from homeowner's or flood insurance, FEMA, or a letter from a municipality. For a vehicle owner, the property owner is required to establish damages, with insurance documentation sufficient to document significant damage to a vehicle. Under the bill, the division is required to develop policies and procedures including, but not limited to:· public advertising of benefits available through local media, social media, public events, and through community organizations;· providing information and consultation services to eligible remnants of Hurricane Ida survivors seeking benefits;· establishing uniform application forms to be used by eligible remnants of Hurricane Ida survivors;· establishing reasonable timelines concerning the application process, including a period where: (1) eligible property owners, renters, and vehicle owners may apply for awards; (2) applications are reviewed by the division, including establishing a process where applicants who have filed incomplete or faulty applications are notified of the incompleteness or faultiness and given adequate time to correct the identified problems; and (3) eligible property owners, renters, and vehicle owners are notified of the award of benefits; · a method of prioritizing reimbursement claims in the event that the total value of requested benefits by eligible property owners, renters, and vehicle owners who applied is an amount greater than the appropriation authorized under the bill. Under the bill, the division will award grants to eligible property owners, renters, and vehicle owners for categories described in the bill. The bill directs the division to issue a final report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year after all funds are disbursed as grant awards, which is required to include, but not be limited to, information concerning: the total number of individuals who applied for an award; the number of awards which were disbursed to eligible remnants of Hurricane Ida survivors; the average amount of the awards which were disbursed to eligible property owners, renters, and vehicle owners; and any recommendations that the division deems appropriate and necessary concerning the disbursement of funding for eligible property owners, renters, and vehicle owners. The bill appropriates $100 million from the General Fund for eligible property owner, renter, and vehicle owner assistance.

Committee Categories

Douglas Steinhardt (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee (on 02/05/2024)

Official Document