Bill > S2952

This bill amends existing New Jersey law concerning the regulation of boarding houses to specifically include and define "cooperative sober living residences" as boarding houses solely for individuals recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, designed to foster mutual support for sobriety. It increases the maximum civil penalty for violations of boarding house regulations from $5,000 to $25,000, mandates that the Commissioner of Community Affairs maintain and publish a list of licensed cooperative sober living residences online, and requires these residences to be inspected unannounced at least twice annually, rather than once. Furthermore, the bill mandates that cooperative sober living residences employ certified supervisors who must be present at all times, prohibit alcohol and drug use with random testing for residents, and encourage residents to attend self-help programs and other recovery-focused activities. Finally, it appropriates $100,000 to the Department of Community Affairs to implement these new provisions.