I. State Issues
a. Bill Authorizing Flexible Multiple Dwelling Inspection Schedule Signed
Into Law
Earlier this week, Acting Governor Sheila Oliver signed into law S-1150, which authorizes the Department of Community Affairs to establish a flexible multiple dwelling inspection schedule. Current law requires the DCA to inspect multiple dwellings at least once every five years. Under the newly signed legislation, inspection schedules will be more frequent or less frequent depending on the history of violation abatement.
The new schedule establishes an inspection cycle as often as once every two years for those multiple dwellings that fail to abate all housing violations by the third reinspection; less frequent inspections, once every seven years, for multiple dwelling in which all violations have been abated by the first reinspection; and five-year inspection cycle remain for multiple dwellings that fall in between these categories. P.L. 2019, c. 202 took effect August 5, 2014, and will be applicable to the next new inspection cycle for a hotel or multiple dwelling.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.
b. AG Issues Directive Creating Emotional and Mental Well-Being
Program for Police
Earlier this week NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a Directive seeking to promote emotional and mental well-being of New Jersey law enforcement officers. The Directive creates the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement (“NJRP-LE”), a training program to be developed by experts in order to “instill a positive culture for law enforcement officers by providing them with the tools to withstand, recover, and grow in the face of stressors, trauma, and the changing demands of their unique work.”
The Directive requires all law enforcement agencies to appoint within 60 days at least one Resiliency Program Officer (“RPO”), who will be responsible for implementing the NJRP-LE. The head of each law enforcement agency is responsible for selecting the RPO based on criteria set forth in the directive. Once selected the name and contact information of the RPO must be sent to the County Prosecutor within 15 days.
The RPO must then attend a two-day Resiliency Training Symposium scheduled for October 10-11, 2019. The symposium will provide RPOs with an overview of the Directive and the NJRP-LE. Once the local RPO receives their training they are then responsible for training all law enforcement officers within their own agencies. All law enforcement officers must be trained in the NJRP-LE no later than December 31, 2022.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.
c. DCA Issues Public Notice of League’s Rulemaking Petition
This week, the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards issued a Public Notice acknowledging receipt of the Petition for Rulemaking submitted on behalf of the League along with New Jersey’s six professional code official associations. The Petition comes after the Department made changes to the Uniform Construction Code’s minor work and ordinary maintenance provisions, which took effect last year, that undermine the efforts of local officials to ensure the health and safety of all New Jersey Residents.
The issuance of a public notice is a required step in the process of having our petition considered for possible adoption. The DCA has 60 days from receipt of a petition for rulemaking to deny the request, accept it and place it for public comment, or request additional time for internal review.
The League’s efforts on this issue are in large part a result of League Conference Resolution 2018-19. While a Conference Resolution signifies the importance of an issue for our members, League efforts can be amplified with individual resolutions from municipalities. To that end, we have prepared a sample resolution supporting the League rulemaking petition, which your municipality may wish to adopt and forward to the DCA if you have not done so already.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.
d. NJ Blockchain Initiative Task Force
On Thursday, Governor Murphy signed legislation establishing the NJ Blockchain Initiative Task Force. The 16 member task force, which includes the Mayors of Newark, Jersey City, and Camden as ex-officio, will study if State, county, and municipal governments can benefit from a transition to a blockchain-based system for recordkeeping and service delivery.
The Task Force will study the opportunities and risks associated with using blockchain and distributed ledger technology; different types of blockchains, both public and private, and different consensus algorithms; projects and use cases currently under development in other states and nations, and how those cases could be applied in New Jersey; and how the Legislature can modify current State laws to support secure, paperless recordkeeping.
Within 180 days of their initial meeting the Task Force must issue a report and present its findings to the Legislature. The report must include a general description of the costs and benefits of State and local government agencies utilizing blockchain technology; recommendations concerning the feasibility of implementing blockchain technology in the State and the best approach to finance the cost of implementation; any draft legislation the task force deems appropriate to implement blockchain technology; and any other information relevant to the subject of the report. P.L. 2019, c. 213 took effect on August 8, 2019.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.
e. Innovation District Designation Program Now Law
On Thursday, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2019, c. 214 establishing the “Innovation District Designation Program” to promote the development and redevelopment of an area in a manner that facilitates collaboration between government, higher education institutions and private enterprise. Municipalities will be able to apply to the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology to designate all or part of the municipality as an innovation district. The law, which took effect August 8, 2019, also permits two or more municipalities to apply jointly to designate an area.
The Commission in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Community Affairs, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority must first establish the criteria for the designation of innovation districts. Once developed the Commission and Department of Community Affairs will provide links on their website to the application form and procedure. The Commission will have 60 calendar days from the receipt of a completed application to approve, conditionally approve or deny the application.
In addition, the Commission in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority must adopt guidance and standards for municipalities to promote innovation districts as places for businesses to locate. A municipality may advertise or otherwise use innovation district designation in accordance with the adopted guidance or standards.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.
f. Expansion of Peddler’s License
On Monday, Acting Governor Oliver signed P.L. 2019, c. 211 which expands veterans eligible to obtain a peddler’s license. Before the expansion, only honorably discharged veterans could get a peddler’s license. This new law now allows those both honorably discharged veterans and veterans discharged under honorable conditions to obtain a peddler’s license. P.L. 2019, c.211 took effect on August 5, 2019.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.
g. U.S. Semiquincentennial Listening Session
Last year the New Jersey State Legislature charged the New Jersey Historical Commission with preparing for the observance of the U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026. As they embark on this initiative, they would like to hear from local officials.
Please see the invitation to join a listening session on September 10 at East Jersey Old Town Village in Piscataway regarding plans for the Semiquincentennial. We are eager to gather a group of county representatives and local elected officials to hear your thoughts and needs as planning for this anniversary gets underway.
Please contact Madeleine Rosenberg, Chief Public Historian, New Jersey Historical Commission, at madeleine.rosenberg@sos.nj.gov or 609-633-0776 with any questions.
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