Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires confidentiality of records of certain evictions initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Requires an emergency period nonpayment record to be confidential and unavailable to the public (Sec. 2).

• Requires the court to redact the names and addresses of the parties and any information that would reveal the parties’ identities prior to issuing a written opinion or decision related to emergency period nonpayment eviction actions (Sec. 2B).

• Requires any New Jersey public entity that maintains records or files of emergency period nonpayment court records to take the appropriate actions to ensure that these records are kept confidential and unavailable to the public (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes New Jersey public entities to retain or distribute demographic information from emergency period non payment court records to understand the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on evictions (Sec. 3B).

• Authorizes the Supreme Court of New Jersey to adopt rules and the Administrative Director of the Courts to issue guidelines to implement the provisions of this act (Sec. 3C).

• Prohibits landlords from considering an emergency nonpayment court record (Sec. 4A).

• Prohibits tenant screening services or other entities from knowingly providing information contained in an emergency period nonpayment court record to a landlord (Sec. 4B).

• Requires any person or entity that collects, distributes, and sells court filing information to update and remove any emergency period nonpayment eviction records that are restricted from public access no later than 30 days following the effective date of this act (Sec. 4C).

• Establishes a penalty of no less than $1,000 for the first offense and no less than $5,000 for the second and each subsequent offense for any person who knowingly reveals to the public an emergency period nonpayment court record (Sec. 5A).

• Authorizes a residential tenant or applicant for rental housing to bring an action in Superior Court for a violation of this act (Sec. 5B).

Full Bill Text