SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1487

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 17, 2025

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments, Senate Bill No. 1487.

      As amended and reported, this bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to ensure that applicants for any housing, shelter, or rental assistance programs administered by the Department of Community Affairs (department), including but not limited to, rental assistance that is administered by the department and authorized pursuant to section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. s.1437f), the State rental assistance program, established pursuant to P.L.2004, c.140 (C.52:27D-287.1 et seq.), and any other similar State-administered programs related to housing, shelter, or rental assistance, are not limited to online application options.  The bill directs the commissioner to require that a person is able to apply through regular mail, electronic mail, in-person delivery, or fax.  This bill would take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  specify that the bill applies to applicants for any housing, shelter, or rental assistance programs administered by the department;

      (2)  include the State rental assistance program and any other similar State-administered programs related to housing, shelter, or rental assistance in the list of programs that are not to be limited to online application options;

      (3)  provide that a person is to be able to apply by in-person delivery, in addition to the other methods provided in the bill; and

      (4)  make conforming changes.