ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 765

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 7, 1996

      The Assembly Housing Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 765.

      This bill would enable a manufactured home to be treated other than as a motor vehicle for purposes of Sunday sales by the manufactured housing industry. At present, those in this industry who sell manufactured homes on Sunday risk fines of as much as $750 and imprisonment for six months, or both, for a third offense.

      With the enactment of P.L.1994, c.150, New Jersey licensed real estate brokers were permitted to offer brokerage sales services of manufactured housing to leased land community residents. Since the real estate industry is permitted to be open on Sunday, the products of the manufactured housing industry, manufactured homes, may be sold at that time only by licensed real estate brokers. This has resulted in a brokerage advantage for licensed real estate brokers.

      This bill amends the definition of "motor vehicle" to exclude manufactured homes, as defined in section 3 of P.L.1983, c.400 (C.54:4-1.4).

      This bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 2119, also reported by this committee on November 7, 1996.