SENATE, No. 1977

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 24, 1997

By Senator LaROSSA

An Act imposing criminal liability upon owners of residential rental premises for certain housing code violations and supplementing chapter 33 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

    1. a. For the purposes of this act, “housing code violation” means any violation of P.L.1966, c.168 (C.2A:42-74 et seq.), P.L.1971, c.224 (C.2A:42-85 et seq.), the “State Uniform Construction Code Act,” P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.), the “Uniform Fire Safety Act,” P.L.1983, c.383 (C.52:27D-192 et seq.), the “Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Act,” P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.) or the “Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979,” P.L.1979, c.496 (C.55:13B-1 et seq.) or any regulations duly promulgated pursuant to any of those acts.

    b. An owner of rental residential premises who, by any act or failure to act, committed by himself or any of his agents or employees engaged in the operation or management of those premises, which constitutes a housing code violation , and which results in the creation or perpetuation of a condition which endangers the safety or health of the tenants of those premises, or of the general public, or which renders those premises or any portion thereof “substandard” within the meaning of the State Housing Code promulgated pursuant to P.L.1966, c.168 (C.2A:42-74 et seq.) is guilty of a crime of the third degree.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides for criminal penalties against any owner of rental residential premises who is responsible for the creation or perpetuation of hazardous or substandard conditions in the premises that he controls.

    When such conditions arise, or are permitted to continue, because of a violation of any of the applicable statutes and regulations, the owner would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for a term of between three to five years, a fine not to exceed $7500 or both.

Makes owner of residential rental premises criminally liable for consequences of certain housing violations.