The "Justin Christian El-Abiad, Robert E. Dwight, Jr., Raquan Ellis, Zahir Atkins, and Sebastien Manzalaoui Act" amends the existing "Robert E. Dwight, Jr., Raquan Ellis and Zahir Atkins Memorial Child-Protection Window Guard Law" to enhance safety measures regarding window guards in residential rental units. The bill expands the definition of "window guard" to include safety features for all individuals, not just children under ten, and mandates installation in units where children aged 13 or under or persons with disabilities reside. It removes the previous requirement for tenants to request window guards, while still allowing them to do so, and specifies that guards must be installed in certain windows occupied by these individuals. Additionally, the bill requires that window guards have sound-producing capabilities and be installed by qualified contractors.

To ensure compliance, the bill introduces new measures such as regular inspections of multiple dwellings every two years and mandates landlords to provide tenants with information about their rights regarding window guard installation. It establishes penalties for non-compliance, including potential criminal charges for landlords if a child or person dies due to failure to comply with the requirements. Municipalities are also empowered to adopt stricter standards and can charge landlords a maximum fee of $100 per inspection. The Department of Community Affairs will publish a model ordinance and maintain a list of compliant window guard providers. The legislation takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to existing leases and lease renewals.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55:13A-7.12, 55:13A-7.13, 55:13A-7.14, 55:13A-7.15, 55:13A-19