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A 1863

Relates to notice regarding the rent increase exemption for low income elderly persons and persons with disabilities programs

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karines Reyes and 1 co-sponsor

Expands the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman statute to protect all long-term care residents, not just the elderly, with broader definitions and duties.

PRINT NUMBER 1863B
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Bill Summary · A 1863

Summary — Assembly Bill A1863 (Print No. 1863B)

At a glance

  • Bill number: A1863 (Print No. 1863B)
  • Primary sponsor: Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal; cosponsor: Assemblywoman Karines Reyes
  • Introduced: January 9, 2024
  • Current status (selected actions): Referred to Aging (Jan 14, 2025); amended and reported to Ways and Means (May 20, 2025); amended and recommitted and printed as 1863B (June 4, 2025).
  • Related/companion: S561 (Senate companion) and several prior-session bills listed.
  • General subject (based on text): Modernizes and expands the Office of the State Long‑Term Care Ombudsman statute (P.L.1977, c.239); makes related statutory amendments and includes an appropriation (amount not specified in provided text).

Note: The database title provided with the bill materials refers to rent‑increase exemption notice for low‑income elderly/persons with disabilities, but the bill text supplied amends the long‑term care ombudsman statute. This summary describes the ombudsman‑related text.

Purpose / Intent

A1863 updates and modernizes P.L.1977, c.239 to broaden the scope and language of the Office of the State Long‑Term Care Ombudsman. The bill removes age‑specific terminology (e.g., references to “elderly”) and reframes protections and definitions to cover all long‑term care residents regardless of age. The intent is to ensure civil and human rights protections, complaint resolution, and advocacy apply to anyone residing in long‑term care facilities.

Key provisions and changes

  • Modernizes the legislative findings to emphasize protection of civil and human rights for persons in long‑term care, without limiting those protections to the elderly.
  • Revises statutory definitions throughout the act, notably:
    • Replaces “elderly”/“elderly person” with broader terms such as “long‑term care resident.”
    • Defines “facility” to include an expansive list of settings offering health or health‑related services to long‑term care residents (e.g., nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care, rehabilitation centers, residential health care facilities, dementia care homes, continuing care retirement communities including independent living sections, day care centers, etc.).
    • Defines “caretaker,” “administrator,” “exploitation,” “abuse,” “government agency,” and “guardian” in the context of long‑term care residents.
  • Specifies that the administrator and chief executive officer is the “State Long‑Term Care Ombudsman,” appointed by the Governor and serving at the Governor’s pleasure.
  • Restates and expands the ombudsman’s administrative powers and duties (organization of the office, rulemaking authority, staff appointments), though some sections in the provided excerpt are truncated.
  • Includes an appropriation clause (text indicates an appropriation will be made), but no dollar amount is present in the excerpt supplied.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: residents of long‑term care facilities of any age (not limited to persons age 60+).
  • Regulated/impacted parties: long‑term care facilities and their administrators and staff, government agencies that regulate or inspect such facilities, guardians of residents, and advocacy organizations.
  • State government: Office of the State Long‑Term Care Ombudsman (expanded or clarified duties), potential budgetary impact due to the appropriation and expanded responsibilities.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Jan 9, 2024; referred to Assembly Aging Committee.
  • Referred again to Aging (Jan 14, 2025), amended and printed as A1863A (May 16, 2025).
  • Reported and referred to Ways and Means (May 20, 2025).
  • Amended, recommitted and printed as A1863B (June 4, 2025).
  • Companion bill in the Senate: S561.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Expands the Ombudsman’s statutory reach to protect all long‑term care residents, which could increase complaints, investigations, and advocacy needs.
  • Facilities may face broader oversight and an expectation to respond to a wider scope of resident protections.
  • The Office may require additional funding/staffing to carry out expanded responsibilities (an appropriation is referenced but unspecified).
  • Removing age‑specific language aligns the statute with contemporary recognition of diverse populations in long‑term care settings (e.g., younger adults with disabilities).

Caveats / uncertainties

  • The provided bill excerpt is truncated in places (especially duties and appropriation details), and the appropriation amount is not shown. The full bill text may contain additional substantive provisions not reflected here.
  • The mismatch between the recorded bill title (rent‑increase exemption notice) and the actual text suggests a database or metadata inconsistency; users should consult the official legislative text on the New Jersey Legislature website for the authoritative version.

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

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