ASSEMBLY, No. 1445

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 1996

By Assemblywoman BUONO and Assemblyman GREENWALD

An Act abolishing the Department of Community Affairs in the Executive Branch of State Government and providing for the transfer of certain of its functions, powers and duties.

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

    1. The Department of Community Affairs in the Executive Branch of State Government, established by P.L.1966, c.293 (C.52:27D-1 et seq.), is abolished and, except as otherwise provided in this act, all of its functions, powers and duties shall terminate on the effective date of this act.

    2. The offices and terms of the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the Assistant Commissioners of Community Affairs, and the directors of the several offices and divisions of the Department of Community Affairs, except as otherwise provided by this act, shall terminate on the effective date of this act.

    3. The Division of Local Government Services, together with its functions, powers and duties, is continued, but the division is transferred to and constituted in the Department of the Treasury.

    4. The Division of Housing, the Division of Codes and Standards, the Council on Affordable Housing, the Continuing Care Advisory Council, the Council on Community Restoration and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, together with the functions, powers and duties of these entities, are continued, but they, along with any other responsibilities of the Department of Community Affairs relating to housing, are transferred to and constituted in the Department of Commerce and Regulated Industries established pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as Assembly Bill No. of 1996).

    5. The Division on Aging, the Division of Community Resources, the Division on Women, the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly, the Office of the Public Guardian for the Elderly, the Continuing Care Advisory Council and the Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs, together with the functions, powers, and duties of these entities, are continued but they, along with any other responsibilities of the Department of Community Affairs relating to social service matters, are transferred to and constituted in the Department of Human Services.

    6. The transfers directed by this act shall be effected pursuant to the "State Agency Transfer Act," P.L.1971, c.375 (C.52:14D-1 et seq.).

    7. This act shall take effect on the effective date of Senate Bill No. 219 or Assembly Bill No. (now pending before the Legislature), or substantially similar legislation establishing a Department of Commerce and Regulated Industries, but any action necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act may be taken prior thereto.

STATEMENT

    This bill abolishes the Department of Community Affairs. The department's various divisions, and the functions, powers and duties thereof, are transferred to the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Human Services and the new Department of Commerce and Regulated Industries to be created pursuant to companion legislation.