SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 954

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 13, 2020

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 954.

      This bill would permit a municipal court fine for a zoning or property maintenance violation to be converted into a municipal lien against the property if the fine remains unpaid 10 days after the expiration of the time period allowed for the owner to respond to the violation.  Prior to converting such a fine into a lien, a municipality would have to first provide the property owner with a notice and an opportunity to pay the fine or request a hearing.  If the property owner fails to respond in accordance with this notice, the code enforcement officer would have to file a copy of the lien and certification with the municipal tax collector.  This lien would then be added to the property taxes next to be assessed and levied upon the property and would bear interest at the same rate as taxes.  The lien would be collected and enforced in the same manner as property taxes.