Section 52:27D-287.6 - Findings, declarations; "Interagency Council on Homelessness."a. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest for State policymakers, providers of services to people who are homeless, advocacy organizations, and other concerned representatives of the public to engage in an intensive collaborative effort to: seek to devise more effective means of coordinating among various State and local initiatives that provide assistance to persons who are homeless or at risk of being homeless; identify public and private sources of funding for programs to meet the needs of persons within New Jersey who are homeless or at risk for homelessness to ensure the equitable distribution of resources; and develop more permanent housing solutions, including supportive housing, for this population.b. There is established the "Interagency Council on Homelessness" in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs. The purpose of the council shall be to: serve as an advisory body to the Office of Homelessness Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs; develop recommendations, through an intensive collaborative effort among representatives of State government, providers of services to the homeless, advocacy organizations, and other concerned representatives of the public; develop, promote, and support efforts for the most effective means of coordinating among various State and local initiatives that provide assistance to persons who are homeless or at risk of being homeless; identify public and private sources of funding for programs to meet the various needs of persons within this State who are homeless or at risk for homelessness; and develop more permanent housing solutions for this population.c. The council shall consist of 24 members, including the Governor, or a designee of the Office of the Governor, the Director of the Office of Homelessness Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs, the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Health, Human Services, Labor and Workforce Development, and Transportation, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military Affairs, the Attorney General, the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, and the Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, or their designees, and nine members, who may be government officials with a demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the council, which expertise may include, but shall not be limited to, the provision of shelter, behavioral health care, and mental health care, or members of the public, at least two of whom who have experienced homelessness or housing instability, and at least two of whom have demonstrated expertise in issues relating to affordable housing development, and of whom, no later than the 60th day after the effective date of P.L. 2023, c. 307 (C.52:27D-287.6a et al.), three members shall be appointed by the Governor, three members shall be appointed by the Senate President, and three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.d. The Director of the Office of Homelessness Prevention, or the director's designee, shall serve as chairperson of the council. The council shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and shall select a vice-chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the council.e. The public members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the council.f. The council shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.g. The council may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature.h. The Department of Community Affairs shall provide staff support to the council.i. Vacancies in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments.j. The council shall prepare an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and shall submit the report to the Governor and to the Legislature in accordance with the requirements of section 2 of P.L. 1991, c. 164 (C.52:14-19.1).Amended by L. 2023, c. 307, s. 1, eff. 1/16/2024.Added by L. 2019, c. 73, s. 2, eff. 4/30/2019.