The bill establishes the Code Blue Shelter Matching Grant Program within the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to provide matching grants to community-based nonprofit organizations that offer shelter services during Code Blue alerts. To qualify for these matching grants, organizations must submit an application to the Commissioner of Community Affairs, detailing their identity, finances, operations, and the specifics of an underlying grant received from a county or municipality within the past 12 months. The DCA will award grants based on established review criteria and in the order applications are received, while maintaining records of underlying grants. Importantly, the bill sets a limit of $50,000 on the total matching grants awarded in a calendar year for applications related to any specific county or municipality, but does not impose a cap on the total number of grants or the total amount any organization may receive.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Commissioner of Community Affairs submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature within three years of the program's establishment. This report will assess the program's effectiveness in meeting the needs of communities, homeless individuals, and at-risk populations, and will include recommendations for the program's continuation or expansion. The bill aims to enhance support for nonprofit organizations that play a critical role in providing shelter during extreme weather conditions, thereby addressing urgent community needs.