ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 4775

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  FEBRUARY 24, 2021

 

      The Assembly Housing Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4775.

      This bill would establish the “Multigenerational Family Housing Continuity Commission” for the purpose of conducting research, obtaining public input, and adopting recommendations on how to most effectively advance the goal of enhancing multigenerational family housing continuity, which can be defined broadly as the degree to which senior citizens are able to reside at the homes of their extended families.  The commission would consist of seven public members, in addition to the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the Commissioner of Human Services, or their designees, as nonvoting members.  The commission would report each year to the Governor and the Legislature on its activities, findings and recommendations. 

      The bill would direct the Department of Community Affairs to provide such staff services as may be needed for the commission to carry out its responsibilities, including assembly of necessary information, and preparation of draft reports, analyses, and recommendations.

      Additionally, in each periodic update to a municipal housing plan element, the bill would require a municipality to provide analysis of the extent to which municipal ordinances and other local factors advance or detract from the goal of preserving multigenerational family continuity, as expressed in the recommendations of the commission.  Preparation of the housing plan element is a part of a municipality’s responsibilities regarding affordable housing under the “Fair Housing Act,” P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-310), and is also included in the municipal master plan. 

      As reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 2727, which was also reported by the committee on this date.