ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY SEVICES COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 1072

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: MAY 5, 1997

 

 

      The Assembly Community Sevices Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 1072 with committee amendments.

      As amended by commitee, this bill would extend to all governmental assistance recipients, including recipients of Social Security disability benefits, the grace period for payment of rent now granted to senior citizens who receive Social Security payments or other governmental pensions. Governmental assistance recipients are often forced to pay their rent late when their governmental assistance checks arrive late. Under the current law, senior citizens who receive governmental pensions are given a five-day grace period in which rent due on the first of the month may be paid. No delinquency or other late charges may be imposed which include the five-day grace period. This bill would include all governmental assistance recipients in the rental late fee grace period.

      The amendments update references to benefits under Work First New Jersey, which replaced the Aid to Families with Dependent Children and the General Public Assistance.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996-1997 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.