Redd-Stack Bill Gains Bi-partisan Support
Assembly needs to approve amendments
The prime Senate sponsors of S2354 are:
The cosponsors of S2354 are:
Robert W. Singer
Barbara Buono
Joseph F. Vitale
Ronald L. Rice
Bob Smith
James Beach
M. Teresa Ruiz
Sandra B. Cunningham
The County Homeless Trust Fund Bill was approved by the New Jersey State Senate on Thursday June 18, 2009 by a vote of 30-6. The bill was sponsored by Senators Dana L. Redd and Brian Stack along with eight co-sponsors, all of which are listed in the column to the right of this text. S2354, which will permit local governments to create homeless trust funds and establish programs to end homelessness known as “County Homeless Trust Funds.”
The County Homeless Trust Fund will allow counties that have developed plans to have a recurring source of funding that would be dedicated to ending homelessness. The funds must be used for programs that not only are consistent with local plans but also measurably reduce homelessness while demonstrating cost savings over time.
We will have the roll call vote later today and will publish it.
Click here to view how the Assembly voted on October 27, 2008.
The campaign for this legislation began in December 2006. This is a very significant step toward providing counties with the resources to end homelessness.
Next Steps
Richard W. Brown, Advocacy Network to End Homelessness, Senator Redd, Senator Stack and Alison Recca-Ryan of Director CSH's New Jersey office.
The Assembly must concur with the amendments approved by the Senate. Although no date has been set, it is our understanding that the bill will be approved by the Assembly if not next week definitely prior to the end of June.
After that the bill will go to Governor Corzine’s desk for signature.
Then we will need to begin to work with the Boards of Chosen Freeholders in the counties that want to establish the fund so that they can implement the provisions of the County Homeless Trust Fund.
Legislative History of the Homeless Trust Fund
- 9/15/2008 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee
- 10/23/2008 Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading
- 10/27/2008 Passed by the Assembly (50-28-1)
- 10/27/2008 Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee
- 12/8/2008 Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
- 1/26/2009 Recommitted to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
- 5/14/2009 Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
- 6/18/2009 Substituted for S2354 (2R)
- 6/18/2009 Passed by the Senate (30-6)
- 6/18/2009 Received in the Assembly, 2nd Reading on Concurrence
Information on the Homeless Trust Fund
To read the final version of the bill click here.
To read the statement on the bill prepared by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee click here.
To view a list of those who have endorsed this campaign click here.
For a fact sheet click here or for a description of possible uses and populations to be served click here.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found by clicking here.
