ASSEMBLY, No. 2199
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JANUARY 27, 2016
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman JAMEL C. HOLLEY
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman MARIA RODRIGUEZ-GREGG
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen McKnight, Phoebus, Assemblymen Diegnan, Rumana, Space, Houghtaling, Senators Beck, Gordon, B.Smith, Bateman, Allen, A.R.Bucco, Cardinale, Oroho, O'Toole, Pennacchio, Thompson, Cruz-Perez, Madden and Ruiz
SYNOPSIS
Establishes veterans’ preference for affordable housing in certain housing projects.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee on February 22, 2016, with amendments.
An Act concerning affordable housing occupancy preferences for veterans and related individuals, supplementing P.L.1979, c.275 (C.40:37A-106 et seq.) and P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et al.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
“Disabled veteran” means any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who has been or shall be declared by the United States Veterans Administration, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability. 1[; and]1
“Veteran” means any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, or any honorably discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits.
b. In addition to any other federal or State law regarding providing a veteran’s affordable housing preference, the 1[authority] Commissioner of Community Affairs1 shall establish rules and regulations to provide a preference for affordable housing in a housing project, as defined under subsection f. of section 2 of P.L.1979, c.275 (C.40:37A-107), to homeless veterans, disabled veterans, and family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them. All applicants for the housing preference as specified herein shall also be required to meet the income requirements for admission to the housing project.
c. Among applicants eligible to receive a housing project preference provided under subsection 1[a.] b.1 of this section, priority for the preference shall be given to applicants as follows: (1) homeless veterans shall receive first priority; (2) disabled veterans shall receive second priority; and (3) family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them shall receive third priority.
2. a. As used in this section:
“Disabled veteran” means any
resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under
honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces
of the United
States and who has been or shall be declared by the United States Veterans
Administration, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability. 1[; and]1
“Veteran” means any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, or any honorably discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits.
b. In addition to any other federal or State law regarding providing a veteran’s affordable housing preference, the 1[municipality, county, or housing authority] Commissioner of Community Affairs1 shall establish rules and regulations to provide a preference for affordable housing in a housing project to homeless veterans, disabled veterans, and family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them. All applicants for the housing preference as specified herein shall also be required to meet the income requirements for admission to the housing project.
c. Among applicants eligible to receive a housing project preference provided under subsection 1[a.] b.1 of this section, priority for the preference shall be given to applicants as follows: (1) homeless veterans shall receive first priority; (2) disabled veterans shall receive second priority; and (3) family members who are the primary residential caregivers to disabled veterans residing with them shall receive third priority.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment.