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 expands the definition of "displaced person" to include those who move from real property as a result of fire damage that renders their dwelling uninhabitable, as determined by a housing inspector or equivalent official.

Additionally, the bill grants tenants displaced by fire the right of first refusal to return to their dwelling once repairs are completed and ensures that the dwelling is restored with amenities equal to or better than before the fire. It allows tenants to apply to the Department of Community Affairs for a nominal rent of one dollar per month for the vacated apartment during the period it is uninhabitable, thereby maintaining their right of first refusal. Furthermore, tenants unlawfully denied this right can seek compensatory damages or other legal remedies in court.

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