Bill Text: NJ S1634 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Requires housing authority to advertise when applications are being accepted for housing assistance waiting lists online.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-01 - Approved P.L.2017, c.51. [S1634 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S1634-Chaptered.html
§2 - Note
An Act concerning housing authorities and amending P.L.1992, c.79.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 20 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-20) is amended to read as follows:
20. a. The municipality, county, or housing authority shall establish rules and regulations concerning admissions to any housing project which shall provide priority categories for persons displaced or caused to be displaced by public action or by redevelopment projects, highway programs, or other public works; persons living in housing found to be "substandard" within the meaning of P.L.1966, c.168 (C.2A:42-74 et seq.) or P.L.1971, c.224 (C.2A:42-85 et seq.), or otherwise violative of minimum health and safety standards; persons and families who, by reason of family income, family size, or disabilities have special needs; and elderly persons.
b. A housing authority established pursuant to section 17 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-17) shall advertise on its Internet website or on a webpage on the Internet website of the local unit that established the housing authority, in both English and Spanish, notice of when it is accepting applications for its housing assistance waiting list, unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, rule, or regulation. The electronic advertisement shall be in addition to any notice currently being published in a newspaper, as applicable.
(cf: P.L.1992, c.79, s.20)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would require a housing authority to advertise on its Internet website, or the Internet website of the local unit that created the housing authority, in both English and Spanish, notice of when it is accepting applications for its housing assistance waiting list. This electronic notice would be in addition to any notice which may already be regularly published in a newspaper.
According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to HUD and local housing authorities, long waiting periods have become common. Due to the protracted waiting period to receive assistance, a local housing authority will oftentimes close its waiting list when there are more families on the list than can be assisted in the near future.
Requires housing authority to advertise when applications are being accepted for housing assistance waiting lists online.
