SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1321

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 11, 1997

      The Senate Community Affairs Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1321 (1R).

      This bill would amend P.L.1993, c.290 which permitted municipalities to license rooming and boarding houses. The bill would clarify that rooming and boarding houses licensed by a municipality, through regulations adopted by ordinance, would still be required to be licensed by and comply with the regulations pertaining to rooming and boarding houses promulgated by the Department of Community Affairs, pursuant to the "Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979," P.L.1979, c.496. Municipal regulations would not be permitted to be inconsistent with the State's regulations.

      The bill would grant power to a municipality to refuse to issue or renew a license if the municipal licensing agency made a determination that the issuance or renewal of a license to a particular person would be contrary to the best interests of the residents of any rooming or boarding house or of the public generally. In addition, renewal would be contingent upon compliance with any municipal regulations which may be adopted pursuant to the bill.

      The bill would also remove the requirement that owners of rooming or boarding houses be United States citizens and residents of the State of New Jersey. These requirements do not exist for owners of rooming and boarding homes licensed by the Department of Community Affairs.

      Finally, the bill would direct that, if a code enforcing agent of a municipality has been contracted by the Department of Community Affairs to perform an inspection pursuant to the "Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979," P.L.1979, c.496, the inspection may suffice for the investigation required to be performed by a municipal licensing agent.