SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 554

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 7, 1996

      The Senate Community Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate, No. 554.

      This bill would clarify that manufactured homes occupied by senior citizens and installed in a mobile home park are not included in the definition of "multiple dwelling" for the purposes of P.L.1987, c.153. That law was intended to encourage the construction of new rental housing by exempting its construction from municipal rent control, leveling or stabilization ordinances. In addition, the bill would also modify the definition of "senior citizen" by reducing the age from 62 to 55 years, beginning on the date of enactment of this bill. Individuals who reside in a multiple dwelling constructed after June 25, 1987 (the effective date of P.L.1987, c.153) for ages 55 and older would not be entitled to refunds for past years in which the municipal rent control ordinance would have applied had the multiple dwelling qualified as senior citizen housing under the age reduction proposed by this bill.

      The bill also contains a section which would validate municipal rent control, leveling and stabilization ordinances adopted prior to June 25, 1987 that included manufactured homes as dwellings subject to rent control, leveling or stabilization.