Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $2.5 million.**

The bill changed from requiring all counties to establish Code Red alert plans to creating a voluntary pilot program where only eligible counties (those with the highest documented homeless populations) may participate.

New eligibility criteria: the five counties with the highest documented homeless population per the most recent Annual Point in Time Count are eligible. If an eligible county declines, the next-highest county gains priority. Participating counties must establish and implement a plan as a condition of receiving a $500,000 grant.

A new section appropriates $2,500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Community Affairs to fund the $500,000 grants to participating counties. The department may distribute funds before a plan is submitted and implemented.

New operational requirements: county coordinators must monitor the municipality with the highest documented homeless population and use its weather forecast as the indicator for declaring a county-wide Code Red alert. Coordinators may also coordinate with NJ 211 to identify cooling center locations and transportation options.

Plan requirements expanded: municipalities with at least 10 sheltered or unsheltered homeless people (per PIT Count) must be included in coordination. The Code Red alert plan must now include a plan to coordinate with local groups and a plan for transportation to cooling centers (items added to the existing list of required plan elements).

New definition of 'Department' as the Department of Community Affairs, which becomes the administering agency for the pilot program.

The separate amendment to P.L.1942, c.251 Section 20 (liability protection for shelter properties) was removed as a standalone section and instead incorporated into Section 2(f) of the new bill structure.