52:27D-287l Municipal homelessness trust fund.
5. a. In the event that a municipality adopts a homeless housing plan pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2025, c.348 (C.52:27D-287k), the municipality shall, by ordinance, establish a municipal homelessness trust fund for the purpose of receiving funds to effectuate the homeless housing plan. Amounts collected by a municipality pursuant to subsection f. of this section shall be deposited into a “Municipal Homelessness Trust Fund” to be used exclusively for the purposes authorized by P.L.2025, c.348 (C.52:27D-287h et seq.). Any interest or other income earned on monies deposited into the trust fund shall be credited to the fund to be used for the same purposes as the principal. A municipality may deposit other funds into the trust fund, as it deems appropriate. b. No monies in the trust fund shall be utilized to pay or discharge the principal or interest on any indebtedness incurred for any purpose by the municipality or any other governmental entity. c. Amounts raised by the additional fees collected pursuant to subsection f. of this section are required to be expended for the purposes detailed pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2025, c.348 (C.52:27D-287m) within four years of being collected. d. Any monies in the trust fund that are not expended after four years shall be transferred to the Department of Community Affairs, which shall contract with a community-based organization which operates in or serves the same municipality where the trust fund exists for the purposes of P.L.2025, c.348 (C.52:27D-287h et seq.). e. Administrative costs for operating the trust fund shall not exceed five percent annually of the total amount deposited into the trust fund in a given fiscal year. f. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a municipality that adopts a homeless housing plan pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2025, c.348 (C.52:27D-287k) and establishes a trust fund pursuant to this section may establish, by ordinance, an additional fee of not more than five dollars, as the municipality deems appropriate, to any existing fines and penalties collected by the municipality, including, but not limited to, parking tickets and court fines. L.2025, c.348, s.5.