1. a. The Multigenerational Family Housing Continuity Commission is created and established in the Executive Branch of the State Government. For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the commission is allocated within the Department of Community Affairs, but notwithstanding this allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department except as expressly authorized under P.L.2021, c.273 (C. 52:27D-329.20 et al.). The commission shall consist of nine members as follows:

(1) The Commissioner of Community Affairs, and the Commissioner of Human Services, or their designees, each of whom shall be nonvoting, ex-officio members of the commission.

(2) Seven public members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

b. The Governor shall designate a public member to preside over the commission until a chair and vice-chair are elected by the members of the commission. The commission shall hold an organizational meeting within 30 days of the appointment of a majority of its authorized membership.

c. (1) Each public member of the commission shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the initial members so appointed: two members shall serve for terms of one year; three members shall serve for terms of two years; and the remaining appointees shall serve for terms of three years. Public members shall be eligible for reappointment. They shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, and the term of the successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration of the term of that incumbent. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only.

(2) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Each member of the commission may be removed from office by the Governor, for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard.

d. The commission shall elect annually a chair and vice-chair from among the public members of the commission, who shall serve for one year and until a successor is elected.

e. Four of the voting members of the commission shall constitute a quorum and a vote of the majority of the members present shall be necessary for any action taken by the commission.

f. The duties of the commission shall be as follows:

(1) To prepare and adopt recommendations on how State government, local government, community organizations, private entities, and community members may most effectively advance the goal of enabling senior citizens to reside at the homes of their extended families, thereby preserving and enhancing multigenerational family continuity, through the modification of State and local laws and policies in the areas of housing, land use planning, parking and streetscape planning, and other relevant areas.

(2) To hold such public hearings and other activities as may be desirable to ensure adequate public input into the preparation of recommendations, and increase public awareness of the strategies and activities contained in the recommendations.

g. The department shall provide such staff services as may be needed for the commission to carry out its responsibilities, including assembly of necessary information and statistics, and preparation of draft reports, analyses, and recommendations.

h. The commission shall report annually to the Governor and to each house of the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C. 52:14-19.1), its activities, as well as its findings and recommendations, if any, for State and local government.

i. As used in this section:

“Commission” means the Multigenerational Family Housing Continuity Commission.

“Department” means the Department of Community Affairs.

L. 2021, c.273, s.1.