52:27D-313.2 "Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program" established.
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5. a. There is established an Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program that shall have the purpose of efficiently resolving disputes involving the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), to consist of an odd number of members, of at least three and no more than seven members who shall lead the administration of the program. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall update the assignment of designated Mount Laurel judges to indicate which current or retired and on-recall judges of the Superior Court shall serve as members, within 60 days following the effective date of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1 et al.).
The Administrative Director of the Courts may appoint other qualified experts as members if sufficient current and retired judges are unavailable. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall take into consideration in making such appointments experience in the employment of alternative dispute resolution methods and in relevant subject matter.
b. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall designate a member to serve as chair. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall make new appointments as needs arise for new appointments.
c. The program, in its discretion and in accordance with Rules of Court, may consult or employ the services of one or more special masters or staff to assist it in rendering determinations, resolving disputes, and facilitating communication as required by subparagraph
(b)of paragraph
(2)of subsection f. of section 3 of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1). In addition, the program may incorporate any existing or newly established court mediation or alternative dispute resolution process to assist the program in resolving disputes and facilitating communication among municipalities and interested parties.
d. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall establish a filing system via an Internet website in which the public is able to access, without cost, filings made pursuant to P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1 et al.) and such other related filings as the Administrative Director of the Courts may include on the filing system.
e. The Administrative Director of the Courts may assign additional responsibilities to the program for resolving disputes arising out of or related to the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.).
f. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall establish procedures for the purpose of efficiently resolving disputes involving the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), for circumstances in which the program is unable to address the dispute within the time limitations established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1). As a part of the procedures established pursuant to this section, in order to facilitate an appropriate level of localized control of affordable housing decisions, for each vicinage, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall designate a Superior Court judge who sits within the vicinage, or a retired judge who, during the judge's tenure as a judge, served within the vicinage, to serve as county-level housing judge to resolve disputes over the compliance, of fair share plans and housing elements of municipalities within their designated county or counties, with the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), as well as disputes that arise with respect to ongoing compliance or noncompliance with obligations created by fair share plans, housing elements, and the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.).
A judge shall be permitted to serve as a county-level housing judge for more than one county in the same vicinage.
g. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall promulgate, maintain, and apply a Code of Ethics that is modeled upon the Code of Judicial Conduct of the American Bar Association, as amended and adopted by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and may establish additional, more restrictive ethical standards in order to meet the specific needs of the program and of county-level housing judges.
L.2024, c.2, s.5.