ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2185

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 27, 2020

      The Assembly Housing Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2185.

      This bill would require the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to continuously maintain an open enrollment period for the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program administered by the department.

      Currently, federal and State laws do not establish a specific length of time in which program enrollment periods are required to remain open.  The bill provides that absent a federal requirement to the contrary, the Housing Choice Voucher Program administered by the DCA, would be required to maintain a year-long open enrollment period.  The bill also would allow persons to submit pre-applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program at any time and thereby be placed on the program’s waiting list.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.