On Monday, the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee favorably reported out of committee S-4128/A-5130. This legislation requires the enforcing agency to provide written notification of a 2.5 hour time window for inspection. If the enforcing agency fails to perform the inspection within the 2.5 hour timeframe, provide notice that the enforcing agency is unable to perform the inspection, fails to perform the inspection during the scheduled time or cancels on repeated instances or is delinquent in the discharge of their duties under the Unformed Construction Code Act a complaint can be filed online with the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). After confirmation of a violation or violations, DCA must take corrective action, including the issuance of penalties, pursuant to the State Uniform Construction Code Act.
The League testified in opposition to this legislation because the recruitment, training, and retention of Code Enforcement Officers has been an ongoing challenge for local governments that has continued to get worse. Very often, they are competing with private firms that offer better pay and benefit options that municipalities cannot match. Further, the rulemaking authority permits potentially punitive measures to be taken against municipalities.
This measure passed the full Assembly by a 71-4 vote and has been referred to the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee.
Contact: Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.