Requires establishment of Public Housing Hotline Pilot Program in Bureau of Housing Inspection to enable certain public housing occupants to lodge complaints concerning living conditions.*
What changed between versions
Changed from a permanent statewide hotline covering all public housing to a three-year pilot program limited to 'pilot public housing' administered by selected pilot housing authorities (one per region).
The database requirement was narrowed from a 'Statewide' database covering all applicable public housing facilities to one covering only pilot public housing facilities.
Removed the reference to supplementing P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.) from the act's title and purpose statement.
Added a new definitions section defining 'Bureau,' 'Central region' (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Union counties), 'Northern region' (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren counties), 'Pilot housing authority,' 'Pilot program,' 'Pilot public housing' (excluding section 8 voucher-only housing), and 'Southern region' (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem counties).
Added selection criteria: the Commissioner must pick one housing authority per region, and the southern region pilot must be a housing authority where HUD has intervened to take possession of its programs within five years before enactment.
The pilot program is limited to three years following establishment of the hotline, and the act expires upon submission of the final report.
Added a new reporting requirement: within 90 days after each administrative year, the commissioner must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature covering complaint volume, subjects, and the program's role in facilitating resolutions. The final report must include the commissioner's opinion on whether to continue, expand, or modify the program.
