ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2598

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 23, 1997

      The Assembly Housing Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2598, with committee amendments.

      This bill, as amended, would amend the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79, to change the date by which members of housing authorities and redevelopment agencies must have completed the course of study required by the law, and to add a home-study option as part of the required course of study under the law.

      Current law requires that a member complete the course of study prescribed by the commissioner within one year following the date of appointment or the effective date of the rules, whichever is later. The effective date of the rules was June 5, 1995 (N.J.A.C.5:16).

      This bill, as amended, would allow an individual, in the case of those serving on or prior to the effective date of the rules, to complete the curriculum within eighteen months following the date of the rules, or in the case of those appointed on or after the effective date of the rules, within eighteen months of appointment or July 1, 1997, whichever is later.

      The bill would also bar a member who had been serving prior to the effective date of the rules and who did not complete the prescribed course of study within the allocated time from being reappointed until a period of five years has elapsed following the completion of that member's term.

      The committee amended the bill to make clear that no individual who had lost his position for failure to complete the prescribed courses within the allocated time would have a claim to his position for subsequent completion of the courses. The bill would, however, allow the commission to accept, as fulfilling the prescribed course requirements, any prescribed courses taken by an individual at that individual's own expense and at a time when the individual was not holding office.

       The committee amended the bill to remove the requirement that the commissioner prescribe a home-study option as part of the

required course of study for members. Further, the committee amended the bill to provide an appropriation of $90,000 to assist local housing authorities in the payment of costs of the course of study.

      Finally, the committee amended the bill to make it retroactive to the effective date of the rules.