ASSEMBLY, No. 4632

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 22, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  JOANN DOWNEY

District 11 (Monmouth)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires each county to establish County Homelessness Trust Fund.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act  requiring each county to establish a homeless housing plan and County Homelessness Trust Fund, and amending P.L.2009, c.123.

 

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

 

     1.    Section 4 of P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287d) is amended to read as follows:

     4.    A local government [may] shall adopt a homeless housing plan to address the housing needs of homeless persons within its jurisdiction, which shall be in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et al.). The plan shall [include provisions for establishing] establish a trust fund for the purposes of receiving funds pursuant to P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et al.), and shall evidence a strategic local scheme to identify and address the needs of the homeless within the jurisdiction, including strategies to reduce the need for emergency room care, hospital care, law enforcement, foster care, and other social services associated with the homeless and homelessness.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.123 s.4)

 

     2.    Section 6 of P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287f) is amended to read as follows:

     6.    a.  Each county shall utilize its County Homelessness Trust Fund with the advice of the County Homelessness Trust Fund Task Force for the operation of a homeless housing grant program.  This program is established in order to provide:

     (1)   for the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of housing projects or units within housing projects that supply permanent affordable housing for homeless persons or families, including those at risk of homelessness;

     (2)   rental assistance vouchers, including tenant and project based subsidies, for affordable housing projects or units within housing projects that provide permanent affordable housing for homeless persons or families, including those at risk of homelessness;

     (3)   supportive services as may be required by homeless individuals or families in order to obtain or maintain, or both, permanent affordable housing; and

     (4)   prevention services for at risk homeless individuals or families so that they can obtain and maintain permanent affordable housing.

     b.    Grants awarded by the governing body of the county shall be used to support projects that:

     (1)   measurably reduce homelessness;

     (2)   demonstrate government cost savings over time;

     (3)   employ evidence-based models;

     (4)   can be replicated in other counties;

     (5)   include an outcome measurement component;

     (6)   are consistent with the local homeless housing plan; or

     (7)   fund the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation projects that will serve homeless individuals or families for a period of at least 30 years or the equal to the longest term of affordability required by other funding sources.

     c.     Each county [that has established a County Homelessness Trust Fund] shall transmit information concerning the uses of the funds deposited in its County Homelessness Trust Fund to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency in accordance with requirements established by that agency.

     d.    The governing body of a county may by resolution establish a preference for veterans that gives first priority, in the distribution of grants, for the benefit of homeless veterans, including those at risk of homelessness.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.320 s.1)

 

     3.    N.J.S.22A:4-17 is amended to read as follows:

     22A:4-17.   a.  All fees, costs, allowances, percentages and other perquisites of whatever kind which surrogates, county clerks in their several capacities, registers of deeds and mortgages, and sheriffs or persons employed in their offices are entitled to charge and receive for any official acts or services they may render shall be for the sole use of the county and shall be accounted for regularly to the county treasurer; however, such monies shall be utilized to increase the salaries of surrogates, county clerks, registers of deeds and mortgages and sheriffs, except as provided in section 6 of P.L.2001, c.370 (C.22A:4-8.1), section 7 of P.L.1985, c.422 (C.22A:4-17.1) and section 4 of P.L.1988, c.109 (C.22A:4-17.2).

     Such accounting shall be made on or before the fifteenth day of each month on form blanks supplied by the county treasurer. The statement of account shall clearly set forth all sums charged or taxed or which shall have accrued or become payable during the preceding month. Such statements shall be made under oath and filed in the office of the county treasurer as public records.

     Such statements when received by the county treasurer shall be forthwith audited by the county auditor or other proper officer.

     On or before the twentieth day of each month surrogates, county clerks, registers of deeds and mortgages, and sheriffs shall pay over the amount of such fees and moneys to the county treasurer and such officers shall be personally liable to the county for such fees and moneys.

     The penalty for each day's neglect to file the required statement of account or to pay over such moneys shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) to be recovered in the name of the board of chosen freeholders of the county in a civil action in the Superior Court, and said officers may also be proceeded against by proceeding in lieu of prerogative writ.

     b.    (1)  In addition to the fees authorized in [N.J.S.22A:4-4.1] section 2 of P.L.1965, c.123 (C.22A:4-4.1), and except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, [upon resolution or ordinance of the] each county governing body[, as appropriate,] shall impose and collect a surcharge of three dollars [shall be charged] for each document recorded, which [will] shall be in addition to any other charge allowed by law.  The county treasurer shall deposit the surcharges so collected into a fund that shall be used by the county to accomplish the purposes of P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et al.).  This fund shall be known as the "County Homelessness [Housing] Trust Fund."  Five percent of the fund may be used annually by the county for administrative costs related to administration of the fund and the grant program established pursuant to P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et al.), and the remainder only for homelessness housing programs as described in P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et al.).

     (2)   The surcharge imposed in this section [does] shall not apply to assignments or substitutions of previously recorded deeds of trust.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.123 s.8)

 

     4.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires that each county establishes a plan to address the housing needs of homeless persons within the county’s jurisdiction by establishing a County Homelessness Trust Fund. Despite the efforts by all levels of government, private individuals, nonprofit organizations, and charitable foundations, the State’s homeless population is unacceptably high.  The creation of county homelessness trust funds will provide the additional funds necessary to aid homeless persons in finding permanent and affordable housing. 

     The bill also requires that the plan include a strategic local scheme to identify and address the needs of the homeless within the jurisdiction, including strategies to reduce the need for emergency room care, hospital care, law enforcement, foster care, and other social services associated with the homeless and homelessness.