This bill addresses security measures for retirement communities, hotels, and multiple dwellings, particularly focusing on enhancing the safety of residents in areas with higher crime rates. It mandates that owners of senior citizen multiple dwellings with 50 or more units provide 24-hour security monitoring if located in municipalities where the violent crime rate exceeds six per 1,000 persons, based on the average of the three most recent Uniform Crime Reports from the New Jersey State Police. For buildings with 75 or more units, this security must include on-site security guards, while those with 50 to 75 units can fulfill this requirement through 24-hour video surveillance of exits, entrances, and common areas where criminal incidents have occurred. The bill also allows the commissioner to require security measures in areas with lower crime rates if there is evidence of persistent criminal activity.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to include new regulations concerning the security of residents in lobbies and common areas, and it establishes that retirement communities must comply with specific safety standards and conduct self-inspections every five years. The commissioner is tasked with notifying retirement communities of their security obligations annually, and the bill allows municipalities to implement stricter security standards if desired. The legislation includes a delayed effective date of approximately six months to facilitate the necessary rule-making processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55:13A-7, 55:13A-13.1