STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Clarifies that residents with mental illness or substance use disorders may be included on public safety special assistance municipal lists.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee with technical review.
An Act concerning municipal lists of residents in need of special assistance and amending P.L.2017, c.266.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2017, c.266 (C.40:48-2.67) is amended to read as follows:
1. The governing body of a municipality, by ordinance, may require the clerk of the municipality to maintain a list containing the names and addresses of municipal residents who identify themselves as being in need of special assistance in the event of an emergency, and who request that this information be maintained on their behalf, for public safety purposes, including but not limited to, use by law enforcement officers responding to an emergency call. Residents with a mental illness or substance use disorder may request that they be included on the list.
The list shall be cross-indexed by name and address of each resident requesting to be on the list, and shall identify the special circumstances of each [individual] resident. The clerk shall provide the list solely and strictly for the purposes of P.L.2017, c.266 (C.40:48-2.67 et al.) to the municipal police department, to each fire department or fire district serving the municipality, and to each first aid or rescue squad serving the municipality, and shall ensure that they are provided with updates at least monthly.
A notice to municipal residents advising them that [such a] this list is being maintained by the clerk for public safety purposes shall be included annually with the tax bills mailed to local property taxpayers. The notice shall include information as to how a municipal resident may add his or her name and address to the municipal list.
The municipal clerk shall notify each landlord who has filed a certificate of registration with the municipality pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1974, c.50 (C.46:8-28) of the existence of the list, and shall provide the landlord with a copy of a notice to be provided to the landlord's tenants, including information as to how a tenant may be added to the list.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.266, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment.