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Bill

A 376

Provides reimbursement to emergency shelter following certain evictions.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Carter and 1 co-sponsor

NJ shelters can evict occupants who refuse to vacate; state reimburses eviction-related costs through DCA, funded by annual General Fund appropriations.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee
#housing #landlord
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Bill Summary · A 376

Summary of Bill A 376 (New Jersey)

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 376
  • Title: Provides reimbursement to emergency shelter following certain evictions
  • Sponsor: Albert A. Stirpe (primary)
  • Status: Introduced in the Assembly; referred to Assembly Housing Committee
  • Introduced date: January 8, 2025
  • Subject: Housing, Landlord

This bill creates a state reimbursement program to cover certain costs incurred by operators of emergency shelters for the homeless when an eviction action is brought against a shelter occupant and the occupant refuses to vacate during the eviction process.

Purpose and intent

  • To compensate emergency shelter operators for costs and revenue forgone when a shelter occupant refuses to vacate during an eviction proceeding.
  • To clarify that eviction actions may be brought against shelter occupants who refuse to vacate spaces within the shelter after the authorized duration.
  • To establish a formal mechanism for State reimbursement to shelters through the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and to require ongoing General Fund appropriations to fund the program.

Key provisions

1) Eviction authority for shelter operators
- An operator of an emergency shelter (established under N.J.S.A. 55:13C-1 et seq., P.L. 1985, c. 48) may file an eviction action against a shelter occupant who refuses to vacate the space after the permitted stay period (as defined by P.L. 2013, c. 204, C.55:13C-2.2).

2) Reimbursement mechanism
- If the shelter occupant is evicted, the shelter operator may apply to the DCA for reimbursement of costs incurred and revenue forgone due to the occupant’s refusal to vacate while the eviction action is pending.
- The reimbursement form must at minimum include: shelter name, date range, amount requested, and supporting documents related to the refusal to vacate and the eviction action.
- Reimbursement requests must be submitted to the DCA within 30 calendar days after the evicted occupant is served a removal warrant.
- The DCA is charged with reviewing applications and reimbursing qualifying costs.

3) Fiscal provisions
- The Legislature must annually appropriate General Fund monies to the DCA as necessary to effectuate the act’s purposes.

4) Effective date
- The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Emergency shelter operators (homeless shelter providers)
  • Shelter occupants/refugees who are evicted from shelter space
  • Department of Community Affairs (administers the reimbursement program)
  • General Fund/State budget (requires annual appropriations)

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Form development and submission timelines are specified (form must be published by the Commissioner of Community Affairs; 30-day submission window after removal warrant).
  • Annual appropriations are required to fund the program.
  • Immediate effective date upon enactment.

Legislative context

  • Related/companion measures: S 1434 (companion in the Senate)
  • Related prior-session bills: A 8890, A 546, A 6275, A 1017

This bill aims to alleviate financial liabilities for shelters stemming from eviction actions during temporary occupancy, while creating a structured, state-funded reimbursement process.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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