New Jersey § 52:31b-5

§ 52:31b-5.

(a) Whenever any State agency or any unit of local government acquires or seeks to

acquire any real property for public use, or implements or intends to implement a

program of law enforcement, or initiates or intends to initiate a program or project

for the voluntary rehabilitation of dwelling units, the chief executive officer of

any such State agency or unit of local government shall certify to the commissioner

that a workable relocation assistance program for displaced persons and business concerns,

offering the services prescribed by subsection (b) of this section, is available to

reduce hardship to those affected. If the commissioner or the chief executive officer of any such State agency or unit

of local government shall determine, in the exercise of their discretion, that the

acquisition of real property for a public use or implementation of a program of law

enforcement or the initiation of a program or project for the voluntary rehabilitation

of dwelling units by any such State agency or unit of local government will cause

substantial economic injury to persons and business concerns other than those persons

or business concerns actually displaced, then any such State agency or unit of local

government may provide such other persons or business concerns with relocation services

pursuant to a workable relocation assistance program. (b) Every workable relocation assistance program required by subsection (a) of this

section shall include such measures, facilities, techniques or services as the commissioner

may prescribe by rules and regulations issued and promulgated pursuant to this act,

including, but not limited to, such measures, facilities, techniques or services as

may be necessary or appropriate (1) to determine the needs of displaced persons and

business concerns for relocation assistance to supply information concerning programs

offering assistance to displaced persons and business concerns and to assist in minimizing

hardships to displaced persons in adjusting to relocation; (2) to assist each displaced

person to secure decent, safe and sanitary dwelling units at prices or rents within

his means and in areas reasonably accessible to his place of employment and not generally

less desirable in regard to public utilities and public and commercial facilities;

(3) to assist owners of displaced business concerns in obtaining and becoming established

in suitable business locations; (4) to provide any displaced person or business concern

a reasonable time from the date of displacement within which to apply for a relocation

assistance payment required by section 4 of this act, 1 and to encourage the prompt transmittal of any such relocation assistance payment

upon proper application therefor; (5) and to provide for fair and reasonable relocation

assistance payments pursuant to section 4 of this act; (6) to secure to the greatest

extent practicable, the co-ordination of relocation activities with other project

activities and other planned or proposed governmental actions in the community or

nearby areas which may affect the execution of the workable relocation program. (c) Within 60 days of the effective date of this act, any State agency or unit of

local government which reasonably contemplates that any person or business concern

may be displaced by the acquisition of real property for public use or the implementation

of a program of law enforcement or the initiation of a program or project for the

voluntary rehabilitation of dwelling units, shall designate or appoint an officer

or employee thereof who shall be charged with the formulation and execution of any

workable relocation assistance program required by subsection (a) of this section. Any such State agency or unit of local government, acting through the officer or

employee so designated or appointed, may utilize the facilities, personnel or services

of any other officer or employee of said State agency or unit of local government,

or may enter into appropriate contracts or agreements with any officer of the United

States or any other State agency or unit of local government, or with any nonprofit

organization, for the purpose of implementing any workable relocation assistance program. 1

N.J.S.A. § 52:31B-4.