Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Senator NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Allows planning and zoning board members to satisfy training requirements on Internet.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the training of planning and zoning board members and amending P.L.2005, c.133.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2005, c.133 (C.40:55D-23.3) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall cause to be prepared and offered a basic course in land use law and planning within six months from the effective date of P.L.2005, c.133 (C.40:55D-23.3 et al.) for current and prospective members and alternate members of local planning boards pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-23) and section 13 of P.L.1979, c.216 (C.40:55D-23.1), zoning boards of adjustment pursuant to section 56 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-69) and combined boards as authorized under law. The basic course to be prepared and offered pursuant to this section shall consist of no more than five hours of scheduled instruction and shall be structured so that a member may satisfy this requirement within one calendar day. The commissioner shall ensure that the course can be delivered in both online and in-person formats within one year of the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The commissioner shall work in conjunction with the New Jersey Planning Officials in establishing standards for curriculum and administration of the course of study.
b. On or after the first date on which a course in land use law and planning is offered, except as otherwise provided in section 3 of P.L.2005, c.133 (C.40:55D-23.4), a person shall not be seated as a first-term member or alternate member of a local planning board pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-23) or section 13 of P.L.1979, c.216 (C.40:55D-23.1), a zoning board of adjustment pursuant to section 56 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-69) or a combined board as authorized under law, unless the person agrees to take the basic course required to be offered under subsection a. of this section, which the person shall successfully complete within 18 months of assuming board membership in order to retain board membership.
c. Except as otherwise provided in section 3 of P.L.2005, c.133 (C.40:55D-23.4), any person who is serving as a member or alternate member of a planning board or zoning board of adjustment or combined board as authorized under law on the first date on which a course in land use law and planning is offered shall be required to complete that course within 18 months of the date upon which the course is first offered in order to retain membership on that board.
d. A hearing or proceeding held, or decision or recommendation made, by a planning board or zoning board of adjustment shall not be invalidated if a member has participated in the hearing or proceeding or in the decision making or recommendation and that member is subsequently found not to have completed the basic course in land use law and planning required pursuant to P.L.2005, c.133 (C.40:55D-23.3 et al.).
(cf: P.L.2005, c.133, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Commissioner of Community Affairs to ensure that the training course for members of planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment who are currently required to attend such training classes are delivered in both online and in-person formats. Other mandatory training programs, such as the training requirement imposed on campaign treasurers pursuant to N.J.S.19:44A-6, can be satisfied by completing an online training program. This bill will allow board members to become better trained without requiring them to take time out of a work day or a weekend.