SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1148

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1148.

      This bill requires emergency contact information and instructions on how to access the comprehensive social services information toll-free telephone hotline be made available to every tenant and prospective tenant of a multiple dwelling.

      Under the bill, the following information is required to be posted in at least one conspicuous area of a tenant-occupied multiple dwelling and on the Internet website of any management company that manages a tenant-occupied multiple dwelling:

      (1)  emergency contact instructions, and the name, address, and telephone number of an individual representative of the record owner or managing agent who may be reached or contacted at any time in the event of an emergency affecting the premises or any unit of dwelling space; and 

      (2)  instructions on how to access and use the comprehensive social services information toll-free telephone hotline, which provides information and referrals to health, human and social service organizations, including information concerning housing resources.

      The bill also requires the social services hotline and the address of the Internet website of the applicable management company, which contains the required emergency contact information, be contained in every lease offered to a tenant in a multiple dwelling.

      The bill also requires that the information provided be made available in English and Spanish.