52:15D-15 Definitions.

444 words·~2 min read·/nj/title-52/chapter-15d/52-15d-15

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

1. As used in P.L.2024, c.85 (C.52:15D-15 et seq.):

"Blue Acres" means the Blue Acres Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program administered by the State of New Jersey.

"Certification of Eligibility for Forbearance" means a final determination by the department that an applicant has satisfied all eligibility criteria set forth in subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.2024, c.85 (C.52:15D-16) and is thus entitled to mortgage forbearance in accordance with P.L.2024, c.85 (C.52:15D-15 et seq.).

"Complete application" means an application properly filed with the department, which contains all information and documentation required by subsection c. of section 2 of P.L.2024, c.85 (C.52:15D-16) to determine whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria to receive a Certification of Eligibility for Forbearance.

"Commissioner" means Commissioner of Community Affairs.

"Department" means the Department of Community Affairs.

"HARP" means the Homeowner Assistance and Recovery Program administered by the State of New Jersey.

"Hurricane Ida" means the major storm that made landfall in New Jersey on September 1, 2021, for which a Presidential declaration that a major disaster existed in New Jersey was issued on September 5, 2021.

"MAP" means the Mitigation Assistance Program administered by the State of New Jersey.

"Mortgage" means a mortgage, trust deed, or other security in the nature of a residential mortgage.

"Mortgage forbearance" or "forbearance" means a period during which the obligations for mortgage principal and interest payments of a storm-impacted homeowner who receives a Certification of Eligibility for Forbearance are suspended. A storm-impacted homeowner who receives a forbearance pursuant to P.L.2024, c.85 (C.52:15D-15 et seq.) remains responsible for tax and insurance payments during the period of forbearance, as well as maintenance of the property that is the subject of the forbearance.

"Mortgage servicer" means the same as that term is defined in section 2 of P.L.2019, c.65 (C.17:16F-28).

"Primary residence" means a homestead located in the State of New Jersey that is occupied by a storm-impacted homeowner as their permanent residence or that would be so occupied but for damage due to Hurricane Ida that has rendered the homestead uninhabitable, as distinguished from a vacation home, property owned and rented or offered for rent by the homeowner, and other secondary real property holdings.

"Storm-impacted homeowner" means a person who holds a mortgage to a primary residence and, as a result of the damage to that primary residence due to Hurricane Ida is participating in HARP, applied to but was denied participation in HARP solely based on HARP criteria excluding homes located in government-designated flood-hazard areas or floodways, has applied to and is pending an award from MAP, or has been invited to participate or is participating in Blue Acres.

L.2024, c.85, s.1.