This bill amends the Relocation Assistance Act to enhance protections for tenants displaced by fire. It clarifies that a tenant displaced from their dwelling due to fire is considered a "displaced person" under the Act, regardless of whether a municipal resolution is in place. The bill also establishes that tenants displaced by fire have the right of first refusal to return to their dwelling once repairs are completed and the unit is deemed habitable by a housing inspector. Additionally, it allows tenants to apply to the Department of Community Affairs for a nominal rent of one dollar per month to maintain their right of first refusal while the unit is uninhabitable.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a cause of action for tenants who are unlawfully denied their right of first refusal, enabling them to seek compensatory damages or other legal remedies. It retains the provision that allows municipalities to pass resolutions for tenants displaced by emergencies other than fire to be recognized as displaced persons under the Act. The definition of "displaced person" is expanded to include those who move from real property due to fire damage that renders their dwelling uninhabitable, as determined by the appropriate housing authority.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 20:4-3, 20:4-3.1