This bill amends New Jersey's "Law Against Discrimination" (LAD) to enhance protections against discrimination in housing and employment, specifically addressing issues related to source of lawful income and age discrimination. It expands the definition of discrimination to include "nationality" and "source of lawful income used for rental or mortgage payments," thereby strengthening protections against discrimination based on these factors. The bill also updates definitions for terms such as "employer" and "housing accommodation," clarifying that "employer" includes all hiring entities and that "housing accommodation" encompasses publicly assisted housing. Additionally, it affirms the rights of parents in directing their children's education and allows for certain distinctions in admissions criteria for private educational institutions.

Moreover, the bill introduces specific prohibitions against discrimination in real estate transactions and financial services, ensuring individuals cannot be denied housing or loans based on familial status or lawful income sources. It raises the threshold for lawful retirement practices, allowing employers to require retirement if an employee is entitled to an immediate retirement benefit of at least $44,000, up from $27,000, and removes a provision that permitted employment restrictions based on U.S. citizenship when required by federal law. The legislation also incorporates gender-neutral language and technical changes to improve coherence, aiming to provide a comprehensive framework for combating discrimination and promoting equality across various sectors in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10:5-3, 10:5-5, 10:5-6, 10:5-8, 10:5-12