reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-2 - Construction

44:7-2. Construction  This chapter shall be liberally construed and nothing therein shall be construed as repealing any other law or part thereof providing for the settlement and relief of the poor except in so far as inconsistent therewith, and the provisions of this chapter shall be construed as an additional method of supporting and providing for aged poor persons. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to terminate, alter or affect any assistance furnished prior to March sixteenth, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-six, or being furnished on said date under any law of this state. The provisions contained in this chapter shall not be construed to be exclusive and shall not be construed to repeal other provisions of the law not inconsistent therewith. Any particular grant of power contained in this chapter shall be held to be in specification but not in limitation of general powers. Nothing in this chapter shall operate to repeal or nullify the provisions of Title 11, Civil Service.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-3 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-3 - Persons entitled to old age assistance; applications

44:7-3. Persons entitled to old age assistance; applications  Subject to the provisions of this chapter, every needy person, sixty-five years of age or upwards, residing in this State, and otherwise qualified as hereinafter set forth, shall be entitled to old age assistance. All persons wishing to make application for old age assistance shall have opportunity to do so and assistance shall be furnished with reasonable promptness to all of such persons who are found eligible. Amended by L.1938, c. 361, p. 901, s. 1, eff. July 1, 1938; L.1943, c. 164, p. 476, s. 2; L.1952, c. 24, p. 108, s. 1, eff. July 1, 1952.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-4 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-4 - Recipient of assistance not deemed pauper

44:7-4. Recipient of assistance not deemed pauper  No person receiving assistance under this chapter shall be deemed to be or classified as a pauper by reason thereof.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-5 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-5 - Eligibility of applicants; details

44:7-5. Eligibility of applicants; details  Old age assistance shall be granted under this chapter to any person who: a. Has attained the age of 65 years; b. Lacks adequate support; is unable to support himself; is without parents, spouse, or children able to support him and without other persons able and willing to support him; c. Is a resident of this State; d. Is not involuntarily confined in any public or private institution other than a medical institution; e. Has not made a voluntary assignment or transfer of property for the purpose of qualifying for such assistance or for the purpose of evading responsibility under section 44:7-14 of this Title; f. Is found, after due investigation and determination as hereinafter provided, to be in need of assistance. Amended by L.1938, c. 361, p. 901, s. 2, eff. July 1, 1938; L.1942, c. 173, p. 534, s. 1; L.1943, c. 164, p. 476, s. 3; L.1944, c. 84, p. 164, s. 1; L.1952, c. 24, p. 109, s. 2; L.1953, c. 213, p. 1613, s. 2; L.1962, c. 222, s. 10; L.1966, c. 190, s. 1; L.1969, c. 226, s. 1.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-6.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-6.1 - Wages and terms and conditions of employment; collective negotiation with authorized employee organization

44:7-6.1. Wages and terms and conditions of employment; collective negotiation with authorized employee organization  Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 44:7-6 or P.L.1950, c. 166 (C. 30:4B-1 et seq.), a county welfare agency has complete authority to establish wages and terms and conditions of employment for its employees through collective negotiation with an authorized employee organization. The agreement between the county welfare agency and authorized employee organization is binding on both parties and is not subject to approval by the Commissioner of Human Services or his designee, except as provided in sections 2 and 3 of this act. L.1984, c. 14, s. 1, eff. March 8, 1984.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-6.2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-6.2 - Negotiated agreement not in compliance with federal law and endangers receipt of federal funds; notice; hearing; determination; authority of commissioner

44:7-6.2. Negotiated agreement not in compliance with federal law and endangers receipt of federal funds; notice; hearing; determination; authority of commissioner  a. If the Commissioner of Human Services determines that (1) a provision in an agreement between a county welfare agency and an authorized employee organization is not in compliance with federal law, and (2) continued receipt of federal funds is thereby endangered, then the commissioner shall so advise the county welfare agency and authorized employee organization in writing and specify the federal law with which the agreement is not in compliance and the reason why it is not in compliance. b. If the commissioner is notified by the federal government that the State's administration of a federal assistance program does not appear to be in compliance with federal law because of a provision in a negotiated agreement between a county welfare agency and an authorized employee organization, the commissioner shall so notify the county welfare agency and authorized employee organization in writing. c. When the commissioner notifies a county welfare agency and authorized employee organization pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall provide the county welfare agency and authorized employee organization with (1) an opportunity to meet with him to determine if the commissioner's finding is correct and (2) an opportunity to conform voluntarily to any change found by the commissioner to be necessary in order to be in compliance with federal law. d. If the commissioner subsequently makes a final determination that the county welfare agency's and authorized employee organization's negotiated agreement is not in compliance with federal law, he shall exercise the authority provided to him in R.S. 44:7-6 over wages and terms and conditions of employment in that county welfare agency only to the extent necessary to ensure that the agreement is in compliance with federal law. L.1984, c. 14, s. 2, eff. March 8, 1984.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-6.3 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-6.3 - Action or notice of action to be taken on wages or terms and conditions of employment by federal government; consultation on position by commissioner

44:7-6.3. Action or notice of action to be taken on wages or terms and conditions of employment by federal government; consultation on position by commissioner  If the federal government initiates an action or notifies the Commissioner of Human Services of any action it may take that affects any wages or term and condition of employment in a county welfare agency, the commissioner shall consult with the county welfare agency and authorized employee organization which potentially may be affected with regard to the position on the federal action that the commissioner takes. L.1984, c. 14, s. 3, eff. March 8, 1984.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-7 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-7 - County welfare boards; creation; organization; membership; terms; vacancies; expenses

44:7-7. County welfare boards; creation; organization; membership; terms; vacancies; expenses  The board of chosen freeholders of each of the several counties shall cause to be established in the respective counties, where such is not already established, a county welfare board, having as one of its duties the supervision of old age assistance, but nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect the membership of any welfare board established prior to March 16, 1936, or the term of service of any employee theretofore appointed by any such welfare board. Such boards are hereby created corporate entities, with power to sue and be sued, to use a common seal and to make bylaws. The members of said welfare board shall be appointed by the boards of chosen freeholders in and for the respective counties, and shall be constituted and composed as provided in R.S. 44:1-11. Citizen members shall hold their offices for five years, except that the first appointments shall be respectively for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, which terms, as to duration, shall be in the order of appointments as made and indicated. Vacancies in such offices shall be filled for the unexpired term only. The holding of any other office by any member of said county welfare board shall not constitute such holding as incompatible with his office as member of such county welfare board. They shall meet regularly once each month, and at such other times as may be necessary or as they may by rule provide. Attendance at any meeting of any such board by four members, at least two of whom shall be citizen members, may constitute a quorum for the transaction of business under this chapter. They shall serve without compensation, but their necessary expenses shall be allowed and paid in the same manner as other expenses are paid by the county welfare board. Amended by L.1938, c. 361, p. 904, s. 4, eff. July 1, 1938; L.1972, c. 105, s. 4, eff. July 27, 1972.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-8 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-8 - Powers of county welfare boards; funds provided by freeholders

44:7-8. Powers of county welfare boards; funds provided by freeholders  The county welfare boards shall receive and act upon applications for assistance under and in accordance with this chapter, and do all other acts and things necessary in connection with the same for the purpose of administering and carrying out the provisions of this chapter. Funds for the administration of this chapter, and the payment of old age assistance granted thereunder, shall be provided by the board of chosen freeholders of each and every county and by the state in the manner hereinafter provided.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-10 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-10 - Duties of secretary-treasurer; bond

44:7-10. Duties of secretary-treasurer; bond  The secretary-treasurer of the county welfare board shall receive from the county treasurer of his respective county such sums as shall represent the county's appropriation for old age assistance and the administration thereof as herein provided, and shall receive from the State such sums as represent the State's share for old age assistance and the administration thereof as provided in sections 44:7-25 to 44:7-27 of this Title, and shall cause said sums to be set up in a special account or accounts subject to disbursement by the county welfare board in accordance with this chapter. Said secretary-treasurer shall furnish bond conditioned on the faithful performance of his duties, in an amount to be fixed by the welfare board, subject to the approval of the State division. Amended by L.1938, c. 361, p. 906, s. 6, eff. July 1, 1938.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-11 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-11 - Director of welfare; working test period; duties; qualifications; deputy director; civil service classification of director and deputy

44:7-11. Director of welfare; working test period; duties; qualifications; deputy director; civil service classification of director and deputy  The county welfare board shall appoint a director of welfare, who shall have the qualifications herein provided. The county adjuster, when qualified, may be appointed to this office, but when so appointed shall not serve as an ex-officio member of the county welfare board. The director of welfare shall be and hereby is classified in the competitive class of the classified service as defined and provided in Title 11, Civil Service, notwithstanding the county welfare board may not otherwise be operating under the provisions of Title 11, Civil Service. Directors of welfare hereafter appointed shall have a working test period, as otherwise defined and governed by sections 11:12-1 and 11:12-2, which shall be not shorter than six months and which shall, on request of the appointing authority, be extended for an additional period or periods not to exceed a total of twelve months including the initial period. He shall be the clerk of the county welfare board and shall serve as such without additional compensation. He shall be the chief executive and approval officer of the county welfare board, and shall exercise all the powers pertaining thereto. He shall be a citizen of the State and of the United States, shall be capable of making and keeping such records and reports as are lawfully required, shall have adequate knowledge of the laws concerning old age assistance and shall be a trained and qualified expert in the field of welfare service, with administrative experience therein. The county welfare board may appoint a deputy director of welfare, who shall have qualifications necessary to the appointment of directors of welfare and be under the supervision of such director of welfare, and be vested, on approval of the county welfare board, with the same powers as the director of welfare. The deputy director of welfare shall be and hereby is classified in the competitive class of the classified service as defined and provided in Title 11, Civil Service, notwithstanding the county welfare board may not otherwise be operating under the provisions of Title 11, Civil Service. Amended by L.1938, c. 361, p. 906, s. 7; L.1938, c. 382, p. 956, s. 1; L.1939, c. 311, p. 754, s. 1; L.1940, c. 186, p. 557, s. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1940.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-13 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-13 - Burial of old-age assistance recipient

44:7-13. Burial of old-age assistance recipient  If, on the death of a person receiving old-age assistance, it shall appear to the satisfaction of the county welfare agency after investigation that there are insufficient funds to pay his burial and funeral expenses, and that there are no relatives or other persons responsible to pay such expenses, or other persons willing to pay them, the county welfare agency may order the payment of such sum as may be necessary pursuant to P.L. 1985, c. 282 to such person as the county welfare agency may direct for the funeral expenses of the deceased aged needy person and an additional sum for the cost of a cemetery plot, the opening or closing of a grave, or other similar burial or interment expenses which sum shall be determined pursuant to P.L. 1985, c. 282, and shall be paid by the county welfare board directly to the cemetery expressly for such purposes. The next of kin or other interested parties may incur additional expenses to be paid by them, but the total cost of such expenses shall be established by regulation of the Department of Human Services pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L. 1968, c. 410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.) and in accordance with P.L. 1985, c. 282.  Any sum so ordered to be paid for or on account of burial and funeral expenses shall be first paid, so far as possible, from any fund otherwise undistributed received by the county welfare agency from or for the account of the individual recipient, and may thereafter be paid, so far as necessary, from funds appropriated for old-age assistance payments. Any amounts so paid from funds appropriated for old-age assistance payments shall be deemed a part of the assistance granted to the individual recipient for the purpose of claims for reimbursement, and recovery under sections 44:7-14, 44:7-15 and 44:7-19, Revised Statutes, and shall be a proper charge for division of cost between the State and county as referred to in section 44:7-25 of this Title.  Payment of burial and funeral expenses as provided above may be authorized with respect to any person who, while lawfully receiving old-age assistance is committed or admitted to any tax-supported institution other than a penal or correctional institution, and who dies while confined at such institution.  The county welfare agency shall not be liable to pay costs of burial and funeral expenses for a deceased recipient of old-age assistance incurred pursuant to a contract or contracts entered into without the knowledge and consent of the board, but may, at its discretion, pay such costs, or a portion thereof, within the limitations of this section.  Amended by L. 1938, c. 361, p. 908, s. 9, eff. July 1, 1938; L. 1949, c. 247, p. 793, s. 1; L. 1953, c. 213, p. 1616, s. 4; L. 1959, c. 128, p. 567, s. 1, eff. July 1, 1959; L. 1968, c. 212, s. 1, eff. July 19, 1968; L. 1979, c. 324, s. 1, eff. July 1, 1980; L. 1985, c. 282, s. 2.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-14 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-14 - Recipient to pledge property

44:7-14. Recipient to pledge property  44:7-14. (a) Every county welfare board shall require, as a condition to granting assistance in any case, that all or any part of the property, either real or personal, of a person applying for old age assistance, be pledged to said county welfare board as a guaranty for the reimbursement of the funds so granted as old age assistance pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The county welfare board shall take from each applicant a properly acknowledged agreement to reimburse for all advances granted, and pursuant to such agreement, said applicant shall assign to the welfare board, as collateral security for such advances, all or any part of his personal property as the board shall specify.  The agreement to reimburse shall provide that the filing of notice thereof as hereinafter provided, is to have the same force and effect as a judgment of the Superior Court. It shall contain therein a release of dower or curtesy, as the case may be, of the spouse of the recipient of old age assistance, and the spouse shall agree to reimburse the county welfare board for all advances made to the recipient. Such release and joinder shall be as valid and effectual as if the spouse had joined the recipient in a conveyance of the property to a third person, and the grant of old age assistance, being contingent upon such joinder by the spouse, shall be good and valuable consideration therefor. Old age assistance shall not be granted to any applicant without joinder by the spouse in the agreement to reimburse except upon the showing of good and sufficient cause as the State Division shall by regulation define.  (b) Upon making a grant of old age assistance the county welfare board shall file with the county clerk or register of deeds and mortgages, as the case may be, in any county, a notice of the above mentioned agreement to reimburse, which notice as of the date of such filing shall have the same effect as a lien by judgment of the Superior Court, and any real estate or lands in which the recipient or spouse has a title or interest, shall thereupon become charged and encumbered with a lien for old age assistance granted the recipient and said notice shall have priority over all unrecorded encumbrances. No fees or costs shall be paid for filing such notices.  Amended 1938,c.361,s.10; 1943,c.164,s.5; 1945,c.273,s.1; 1953,c.42,s.32; 1991,c.91,s.443.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-16 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-16 - Record of reimbursement agreements; satisfaction

44:7-16. Record of reimbursement agreements; satisfaction  The county clerks or registers of deeds and mortgages, as the case may be, shall record in a book to be known as "reimbursement agreements" the said certificates, and shall make a complete alphabetical index to the same, and no clerk or register shall charge any fee therefor. Whenever a county shall have received satisfaction for such judgments, the county welfare board shall enter an acknowledgment of satisfaction upon the record of said judgments, without charge. Amended by L.1953, c. 42, p. 788, s. 34, eff. March 19, 1953.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-17 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-17 - Application for assistance

44:7-17. Application for assistance  An applicant for old age assistance shall make his application therefor to the county welfare board for the county in which the applicant resides. The person requesting assistance may apply in person or the application may be made by another in his behalf. The application shall be made in writing or reduced to writing, in manner and form prescribed by the state division. All statements in the application shall be verified under oath by the applicant.
NJ Rev Stat § 44:7-18 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 44 - Poor|Section 44:7-18 - Investigation of and notice to applicant; review of determination

44:7-18. Investigation of and notice to applicant; review of determination  When the county welfare board receives an application for old age assistance, an investigation and record shall promptly be made of the circumstances of the applicant. The object of such investigation shall be to ascertain the facts supporting the application and such other information as may be required by the rules of the State division. When immediate need is apparent and the applicant provides evidence of eligibility by a written statement signed and verified under oath, the director of welfare shall issue a grant of old age assistance effective as of the date of application and pending completion of such investigation. Upon the completion of such investigation the county welfare board shall decide whether the applicant is eligible for and should receive or continue to receive old age assistance, the amount of assistance, the manner of paying or providing it, and as appropriate, the date on which the assistance shall begin; provided, however, that if the completed investigation shows the applicant to have been ineligible for reasons other than need, the county welfare board shall not be obligated, in the absence of fraud or misrepresentation, to take action for the recovery of any assistance granted pending completion of such investigation. It shall notify the applicant of its decision in writing. The county welfare board shall at once report to the State division its decision in each case together with copies of such supporting records as the State division may require. Such decision shall be final, except that where an application is not acted upon by the county welfare board within 30 days after the filing of the application, or the application is denied, or the grant is deemed inadequate, either by the State division or by the applicant, the State division may review the case in its discretion or the applicant may appeal to the State division by filing a petition with the division setting forth the facts in full as to the necessity of such assistance. Whereupon a representative of the State division shall hold a fair hearing on the appeal, and if the appeal is sustained by the State division the payments of assistance in the amount determined by the State division must be paid by said county welfare board as herein provided. Amended by L.1938, c. 361, p. 910, s. 12, eff. July 1, 1938; L.1943, c. 164, p. 478, s. 5; L.1944, c. 84, p. 166, s. 3; L.1953, c. 213, p. 1617, s. 5; L.1968, c. 139, s. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1969; L.1969, c. 222, s. 1.