The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee advanced legislation (S-1700), introduced by Senate Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove to assist Superstorm Sandy victims with the hardships of the “clawback” process.

The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee advanced legislation introduced by Sen. Christopher Connors, Asm. Brian Rumpf and Asw. DiAnne Gove to assist Superstorm Sandy victims with the hardships of the ‘clawback’ process. (U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)

Specifically, the 9th District Delegation’s initiative would establish specific procedures to be used by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) to recover overpayments of Superstorm Sandy relief funds awarded through the RREM and the LMI programs, with the purpose of better informing homeowners of their rights and responsibilities while also providing more flexible repayment options.

The 9th District Delegation made the following remarks:

“The committee’s advancement of this legislation is due in large part to the tireless efforts of the New Jersey Organizing Project, which our Delegation has worked with from its inception to assist victims of Superstorm Sandy.

“Members of the organization provided key insight and heartfelt testimony to the committee about the persisting hardships they have encountered with the clawback bureaucrat process. A common theme in the testimony to the Committee was that these individuals followed the rules to the letter throughout the rebuilding process but still were required to give back large amounts of money back to government, in some cases years later.  Their heartbreaking stories helped gained bipartisan support, including the co-prime sponsorship of Senator Troy Singleton, that will be critical for the legislation move forward.

“While the legislation was advanced by the Committee, it was acknowledged that more work must be done to tighten up the legislation through amendments. In service to our constituents, we remain committed to assisting Sandy victims resolve their clawback issues and helping close the door on this difficult chapter of their lives.”

Assemblyman Rumpf and Assemblywoman Gove are the prime sponsors of the A-723 which is awaiting action by the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.