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A 2258

Relates to the tax stabilization reserve fund

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Will Barclay and 6 co-sponsors

Establishes a 3-year statewide Code Red pilot requiring counties to plan heat/air-quality alerts, shelter for at-risk people, cooling centers, and liability protections.

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
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Bill Summary · A 2258

Summary — A2258 (Reprint AHO 6/13/24)

Purpose

A2258 establishes a three-year pilot program requiring New Jersey counties to develop coordinated "Code Red" alert plans to shelter and protect at-risk individuals (e.g., people living outdoors, in parks, or in poorly insulated settings) during extreme heat and certain air-quality events. The bill sets operational standards for county and municipal planning, creates triggers for issuing alerts, requires reporting of cooling centers to a statewide public resource, provides liability protections, and requires evaluation and possible reimbursement at the pilot's end.

Key provisions

  • Pilot program: Each county must establish a three-year Code Red pilot via its office of emergency management (or appropriate office). Plans must coordinate with municipal emergency management in municipalities with a documented homeless population of at least 10 (per the most recent Point-in-Time Count).
  • Minimum plan contents (as amended): operation of cooling centers; required responses by municipalities, social service agencies, and non-profits; outreach to vulnerable populations; availability of other heat/air-quality mitigation strategies; implementation plan; and other specifics as determined by the State Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
  • Triggers for Code Red declaration:
    • When the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory for the county’s region; and
    • (As amended) when the National Weather Service reports an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 151 or higher for the county’s region.
  • Cooling center reporting: Municipalities, social service agencies, and non-profits must report cooling center locations to the Department of Environmental Protection for inclusion in the State’s Heat Hub NJ / Chill Out NJ public resource.
  • Volunteer involvement: Plans may be carried out by designated volunteer organizations; volunteers receive cooperation and logistical support but operate autonomously and must act in response to an alert under the plan.
  • Liability protection: Amends P.L.1942, c.251 to provide "Good Samaritan" civil liability protection to the State, political subdivisions, employees, volunteers, and volunteer organizations acting in good faith under Code Red plans (mirrors protections used for other emergency alert plans).
  • Evaluation and reimbursement:
    • The State OEM must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on or before the first day of the 30th month after the bill’s effective date, describing pilot successes, challenges, and whether the program should become permanent.
    • After the pilot, counties may certify administrative costs to the State OEM for reimbursement; the State OEM shall reimburse certified costs.
  • Flexibility: Counties, municipalities, social service agencies, and non-profits may operate cooling centers or other mitigation strategies even when a formal Code Red alert is not issued.

Who is affected

  • At-risk individuals (homeless and others vulnerable to heat/poor air quality)
  • County offices of emergency management and county governing bodies
  • Municipal emergency management coordinators (in municipalities with ≥10 people in the Point-in-Time Count)
  • Social service agencies, non-profit service providers, and volunteer organizations operating cooling/outreach services
  • Department of Environmental Protection (maintains cooling center database)
  • State Office of Emergency Management (oversight, reporting, reimbursements)

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Effective immediately upon enactment; pilot program expires three years after enactment.
  • State OEM report due by the 30th month after the bill’s effective date.
  • Legislative actions: Introduced 1/9/2024; amended and reported by Assembly Housing Committee 6/13/2024; referred to Assembly Ways and Means 1/16/2025.

Fiscal and legal implications

  • Counties may incur administrative and operational costs for planning and running cooling centers and outreach; reimbursable costs may be submitted to the State OEM after the pilot.
  • The bill expands statutory liability protections for government actors and volunteers participating in Code Red operations.

Sponsors, status, and related bills

  • Primary sponsor: Edward Ra; cosponsors include William A. Barclay, Brian Manktelow, Angelo J. Morinello, Chris Tague, Kenneth Blankenbush, Stephen Hawley.
  • Current status: Referred to Assembly Ways and Means (1/16/2025).
  • Companion / related legislation: S2346 (companion); several prior-session bills (A5532, A3994, A7083, A7444, A5873, A6556, A5907, A4700, A3214).

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

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