Bill > S718

Introduced Session

In January 1972, when the "Relocation Assistance Act," P.L.1971, c.362, (C.20:4-1 et seq.) became effective, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, was 41.1. In January 2014, the CPI-U was 233.9, more than 5.6 times as great. As a result, the real dollar value of the relocation assistance authorized by the "Relocation Assistance Act" was, in January 2014, 17.6% of what it was in January 1972. The bill provides for a 4.5-fold increase in all of the statutory assistance amounts over two years and for the indexing of the amounts to changes in the CPI-U beginning 36 months after the effective date of the bill. The two-year phase-in of the higher relocation assistance amounts is necessary in order to give entities engaged in the planning process for redevelopment projects the time necessary to plan for the larger increases. The phase-in will require an immediate increase of up to 150 percent, an additional increase of up to 150 percent in 12 months, and a final increase of another 150 percent in 24 months over the current allowable and base amounts. However, N.J.S.A.20:4-4.1 through N.J.S.A.20:4-4.3 permit public entities to recover funds they are required to expend for relocation assistance if the owner of the property has been held liable for civil or criminal penalties.

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Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee (on 01/12/2016)