The bill amends the "Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979" to enhance the regulation of cooperative sober living residences in New Jersey. It introduces a new definition for "cooperative sober living residence," which is described as a boarding house specifically for individuals recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, aimed at fostering a supportive environment for sobriety. The bill increases the maximum civil penalty for licensing violations from $5,000 to $25,000 and mandates the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to maintain and publish a list of licensed cooperative sober living residences, including their locations and contact information.

Additionally, the bill establishes stringent reporting requirements for incidents that may jeopardize the health, safety, or welfare of residents or staff in cooperative sober living residences. Operators are required to notify the DCA immediately of such incidents and submit a detailed written report within five working days. The types of incidents that must be reported include serious injuries or deaths, outbreaks of communicable diseases, and any alleged crimes affecting the safety of residents or staff. These measures aim to ensure better oversight and accountability for cooperative sober living residences in the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55:13B-3, 55:13B-7