Bill Text: NJ A4626 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requires entity that manages public housing for seniors to retain emergency contact information for residents.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-10-13 - Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee [A4626 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4626-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4626

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman  SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex)

Assemblywoman  VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires entity that manages public housing for seniors to retain emergency contact information for residents.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee on October 13, 2022, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning emergency contact information in age-restricted communities, and supplementing P.L.1993, c.30 (C.45:22A-43 et al.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  a.  An ¹[association of an age-restricted community] entity that manages public housing for seniors¹ shall establish and implement procedures for the collection of emergency contact information for each resident of each dwelling unit ¹[in the age-restricted community]¹, which information shall be used to provide notice in the event of the hospitalization or death of a resident.

     b.    The procedures required pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall include the provision of notice to, and opportunity for, each current and prospective resident to provide ¹upon signing a lease or a rental agreement with the entity¹, and update ¹[as necessary] annually¹, emergency contact information to enable the ¹[association] entity¹ to notify the emergency contacts in the event of the hospitalization or death of the resident.  ¹The entity shall also provide a resident's emergency contact information to emergency personnel, upon request.  The provisions of this section shall not be construed to authorize an entity to use a resident's emergency contact information for any other purposes than those associated with an emergency of the resident.¹

     c.     ¹[Upon learning of the hospitalization or death of a resident, an association shall notify the emergency contacts for that resident as soon as is practicable, but no later than 24 hours thereafter.  An association that fails to provide notice as required pursuant to this subsection shall be liable to a civil penalty of $500, which may be collected and enforced by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the Attorney General, or any other person pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).  The municipal court and the Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of proceedings for the enforcement of the penalties provided by this subsection.  All penalties assessed under this subsection shall be payable to the State Treasurer. 

     d.]¹ The Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commissioners of Health and Human Services, may adopt regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), concerning the collection of emergency contact information and the notification of the emergency contacts as required pursuant to this section.

     ¹[e.] d.¹  As used in this section:

     ¹["Age-restricted community" means that complies with the "housing for older persons" exception from the federal "Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988," Pub.L.100-430 (42 U.S.C. ss.3601 et seq.) for that community as set forth in section 100.301 of Title 24, Code of Federal Regulations.]¹

     "Emergency contact" means each individual identified in the emergency contact information provided by ¹[an age-restricted community] a¹ resident. 

     "Emergency contact information" means contact information provided by a resident ¹[of an age-restricted community to the association]¹ which includes the resident's next-of-kin and preferred contact in the event of the resident's hospitalization or death.

     ¹"Public housing for seniors" shall mean low-income, subsidized housing for individuals 55 years of age and older.¹

 

     2.  This act shall take effect on the first day of the fifth month next following enactment, except the Commissioner of Community Affairs may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.