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A4483
ASSEMBLY, No. 4483
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 24, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� KENYATTA STEWART
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman� CHIGOZIE U. ONYEMA
District 28 (Essex and Union)
Assemblywoman� CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex and Union)
SYNOPSIS
���� "Justin Christian El-Abiad, Robert E. Dwight,
Jr., Raquan Ellis, Zahir Atkins, and Sebastien Manzalaoui Act"; revises
window guard requirements in certain residential rental units and multiple
dwellings.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning window guards in certain residential rental
units and multiple dwellings, amending and supplementing P.L.1995, c.120, and
supplementing P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.) and Title 40 of the Revised
Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.� Section 1 of P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12) is amended to read as follows:
���� 1.��� As used in
[
this act
]
P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.)
:
����
[
"child-protection window
guard" or
]
"window guard" means a bar, screen or grille assembly designed to be
installed in a window for the purpose of preventing accidental fall or ejection
of a
[
child
]
person
through the window.� It shall be so designed, constructed and installed that no
person
[
of
the age of 10 years or younger
]
may through accident, ignorance or inadvertence, remove, open or dislodge it so
as to permit such fall or ejection.� Such window guards shall conform to
specifications developed by the
[
commissioner
]
Commissioner
of Community Affairs
regarding design, construction and installation so as
to accomplish the purpose of
[
this
act
]
P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.)
.� A municipality may adopt standards that
afford tenants greater protections than are provided pursuant to the
commissioner's specifications.�
A window guard installed pursuant to
P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) shall include a chime, or other sound
producing capability, that meets certain specifications determined by the
commissioner.� Additionally, a window on which a window guard is required to be
installed shall be made of glass and shall be installed by a qualified
contractor.
���� The commissioner's
specifications for double hung windows shall ensure that window guards protect
the full openable area of each lower window.� The specifications shall provide
that all window guards shall be designed and installed as to ensure that any space
between the lowest section of the top horizontal bar of the window guard and
the bottom of the upper sash is less than four inches.� Installation of rigid
metal stops in the upper tracks of a bottom window or other attempts to limit
the ability to raise the bottom window shall not be an acceptable method of
satisfying the specifications provided for in this section.� Window stops may
be utilized as a safety enhancement when used in addition to installed window
guards.
���� "common interest
community" means a horizontal property regime, condominium, cooperative,
or mutual housing corporation in which some of the property, known as common
elements, is owned as tenants-in-common by all of the property owners.
����
"person with a
disability" means a person with a disability, as defined in subsection q.
of section 5 of P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-5), or a person with an intellectual
disability, as defined in N.J.S.3B:1-2.
����
"qualified
contractor" means a contractor certified by the Department of Community
Affairs pursuant to section 10 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.��������� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).
���� "unit owners'
association" means the association organized for the purpose of management
of the common elements and facilities of a common interest community.
(cf: P.L.2006, c.55, s.1.)
���� 2.� Section 2 of P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.13) is amended to read as follows:
���� 2. a. (1) Except as provided
in subsection b. of this section, the owner, lessor, agent or other person who
manages or controls a multiple dwelling, other than a multiple dwelling which
is part of a common interest community, shall
[
,
upon the written request of a tenant of a unit in which a child or children 10
years of age or under reside or will reside or are regularly present for a
substantial period of time,
]
provide, install and maintain approved
[
child-protection
]
window guards
on the windows of the dwelling unit and on any windows in the public halls of a
multiple dwelling in which any child or children
[
of such age
]
13 years
of age or under, or a person with a disability,
reside or are regularly
present for a substantial period of time.
���� (2) (a) Except as provided in
subsection b. of this section, the owner, lessor, agent
,
or other person
who controls a unit of dwelling space in a multiple dwelling within a common
interest community, upon the
possession of a property by or
written
request of a tenant of a unit in which a child or children
[
10
]
13
years of age or under
, or a person with a disability,
reside or will
reside or are regularly present for a substantial period of time, shall
provide, install and maintain
[
child-protection
]
window guards
on the windows of the unit.
���� (b)�� The owner, lessor, agent
or other person who controls a unit of dwelling space in a multiple dwelling
within a common interest community shall provide written notice to the unit
owners' association whenever a tenant
obtains possession
of a unit, in
which a child or children
[
10
]
13
years of age or under
, or a person with a disability,
reside or will
reside or are regularly present for a substantial period of time,
[
has requested
]
that
[
child-protection
]
window guards
are required to
be installed on the windows in the common areas of the
common interest community.
���� (3) (a) Except as provided in
subsection b. of this section, upon the written request of
or notice by
an owner or an occupant of a dwelling unit of a multiple dwelling within a
common interest community, in which dwelling unit a child or children
[
10
]
13
years of age or under
, or a person with a disability,
reside or will
reside or are regularly present for a substantial period of time, the unit
owners' association shall install and maintain
[
child-protection
]
window guards
on the windows which are determined to be in common areas of the community
property and maintained by the association.
���� (b)�� A unit owners'
association shall not adopt or seek to enforce any restrictions or
architectural controls which would prohibit or impede the installation of a
window guard in compliance with P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.).
���� b. (1) The requirements of
subsection a. of this section shall apply to all windows, except those windows
which give access to a fire escape, which are not designed to open, or which
are on the first floor; provided, however, that the requirements of subsection
a. of this section shall apply to first floor windows in such circumstances as
the commissioner may provide by rule.
���� (2)�� The requirements of
subsection a. of this section shall not apply to seasonal rental units.�
"Seasonal rental unit" means a dwelling unit rented for a term of not
more than 125 consecutive days for residential purposes by a person having a
permanent residence elsewhere, but shall not include use or rental of living
quarters by migrant, temporary or seasonal workers in connection with any work
or place where work is being performed.� The owner, lessor, agent or other
person who controls a dwelling unit shall have the burden of proving that the
rental is seasonal.
���� c.���� Any
[
child-protection
]
window guard
installed pursuant to P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) shall conform to
the requirements of the State Uniform Construction Code with respect to means
of emergency egress, and a window guard installed on an emergency egress window
shall be releasable or removable from the inside without use of a key, tool or
excessive force.� Window guards installed on all other windows shall be
designed, constructed, and installed so that they may not deliberately or
through accident, ignorance or inadvertence, be removed, opened, or dislodged
without the use of a key or tool.
���� d. (1) Upon installation of a
[
child-protection
]
window guard
in a dwelling unit, and annually thereafter, the owner, lessor, agent or other
person who manages and controls that dwelling unit shall provide the tenant
with an orientation concerning the safe use and manipulation of window guards
in accordance with guidelines established by the Commissioner of Community
Affairs pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.16).
���� (2)�� Upon installation of a
[
child-protection
]
window guard
in the common areas of a multiple dwelling, and annually thereafter, the owner,
lessor, unit owners' association, agent or other person who manages and
controls the common areas of the multiple dwelling shall provide the occupants
of the multiple dwelling with an orientation concerning the safe use and
manipulation of window guards in accordance with guidelines established by the
Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1995, c.120
(C.55:13A-7.16).
���� e.���� At least twice
annually, the owner, lessor, unit owners' association, agent or other person
who manages and controls a unit of dwelling space in a multiple dwelling, the
common areas of the multiple dwelling, or both, in which child protection
window guards have been installed, shall inspect each such window guard under
their control to ensure that it remains sound and in conformance with the
provisions of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.), and shall enter a record
of such inspection in a log, which shall be maintained as a permanent record so
long as the window guard remains installed, and for five years thereafter, and
which shall be available upon request to the department or its duly authorized
representative.
���� f.����
(1)
������� A
tenant or unit owner may file a complaint with the commissioner for the failure
to comply with the provisions of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.).� The
commissioner shall investigate complaints within a reasonable time period. The
commissioner may impose penalties authorized under the "Hotel and Multiple
Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.) for violations
concerning the installation of
[
child-protection
]
window guards
and may institute a criminal complaint for a repeat conviction after the
imposition of a $5,000 civil penalty for a continuing violation pursuant to
section 19 of P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-19).
����
(2)�� A tenant subject to a
violation of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) may request to be
relocated by a landlord to another unit, or to other accommodations, until the
violation has been remedied.
����
(3)�� If a landlord fails
to comply with the provisions of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) and a
child or person dies as a result, at least in part, of the compliance failure,
then the landlord may be charged with a homicide that constitutes manslaughter,
pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:11-4.� This paragraph shall not apply if
the death is as a result of suicide.
���� g.��� To the extent that a
violation of P.L.1995, c.120� (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) has occurred within a
rental unit in a common interest community, such violation shall be noticed to,
and resultant penalties imposed upon, the unit owner of such rental unit and not
the unit owners' association.
���� h.��� To the extent that a
violation of P.L.1995, c.120� (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) has occurred within the
common areas of a common interest community, such violation shall be noticed
to, and resultant penalties imposed upon, the unit owners' association.
(cf: P.L.2006, c.55, s.2)
���� 3.� Section 3 of P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.14) is amended to read as follows:
� �� 3. a. All leases offered to
tenants in multiple dwellings shall contain a notice, conspicuously set forth
therein in prominent boldface type, advising tenants and prospective tenants of
the
[
availability
]
requirement
for the installation and maintenance
of window guards under P.L.1995, c.120
(C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.)
[
and
the need for a tenant to request in writing the installation of window guards
]
. In the case
of a cooperative, as defined in P.L.1987, c.381 (C.46:8D-1 et seq.), formed
prior to the effective date of P.L.2006, c.55 (C.55:13A-7.12a et al.), the
notice required by this subsection shall not be required in proprietary leases.
���� b. (1) At the time of lease
signing, the owner, lessor, agent or other person who manages or controls a
unit of dwelling space in a multiple dwelling shall verbally inform the tenant
of
requirements for, and
the tenant's right to request
,
the
installation of window guards under P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.).�
Verification that this verbal notice was provided and understood shall be set
forth in a written document, aside from the lease document itself, which
written document shall acknowledge that the tenant was made aware of the right
to request the installation of window guards and which shall be signed by both
the tenant and the owner, lessor, agent or other person who manages or controls
the unit of dwelling space.
���� (2) (a) The owner, lessor,
agent or other person who manages or controls a multiple dwelling unit or a
rental unit within a common interest community shall cause to be delivered to
each dwelling unit so managed or controlled, twice annually, a notice, in form
and manner prescribed by the commissioner, advising occupants of the obligation
of the said owner, lessor, agent or other person to install
[
child-protection
]
window guards
pursuant to section 2 of� P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.13).� For the purposes of
this section, an owner of a rental unit located within a common interest
community, and not the unit owners' association, shall be deemed to be the
managing agent of that rental unit.� A lease provision notifying a tenant of
the availability of window guards may satisfy one of the notice requirements of
this subparagraph.
���� (b)�� The owner, lessor, unit
owners' association, agent or other person who manages or controls the common
areas of a multiple dwelling shall cause to be delivered to each dwelling unit,
twice annually, a notice, in form and manner prescribed by the commissioner,
advising occupants of the obligation of the said owner, lessor, unit owners'
association, agent or other person to install
[
child-protection
]
window guards
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.13).� A lease provision
notifying a tenant of the
[
availability
]
requirement
for the installation and maintenance
of window guards may satisfy one of
the notice requirements of this subparagraph.
���� (3)�� The owner, lessor, unit
owners' association, agent or other person who manages or controls the common
areas of a multiple dwelling shall cause to be conspicuously posted and
prominently displayed in the common areas of that dwelling a notice advising
the occupants of the obligation of the owner, lessor, unit owners' association,
agent or other person to install
[
child-protection
]
window guards
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.13) and advising tenants
to check their window guards on a regular basis and to report any problems or
concerns to the owner, lessor, unit owners' association, agent or other person
who manages or controls the multiple dwelling.
���� c.����
[
Notwithstanding
any municipal ordinance to the contrary, expenditures not exceeding $20 per
window guard installed in a dwelling unit that are made pursuant to� P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) may be passed on to the� tenant who requested
installation of the window guard.
]
�
Deleted by amendment, P.L.��� , c.��� (pending before the Legislature as
this bill)
(cf: P.L.2006, c.55, s.3)
���� 4.� Section 4 of P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.15) is amended to read as follows:
���� 4.��� No tenant or occupant of
a multiple dwelling unit, or any other person, shall obstruct or interfere with
the installation of
[
child-protection
]
window guards
required under section 2 of� P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.13), nor shall any
person remove or otherwise render ineffective such window guards; provided,
however, that the owner or the representative of the owner may remove window
guards from an unoccupied unit
[
or,
with the consent of the tenant, from a unit in which no child 10 years of age
or under resides or is regularly present for a substantial period of time
]
; and
provided, further, that the owner or the representative of the owner shall
remove window guards when requested to do so by the tenant in writing.
(cf: P.L.2006, c.55, s.4)
���� 5.� Section 19 of P.L.1967,
c.76 (C.55:13A-19) is amended to read as follows:
���� 19. (a) No person shall
:
���� (1)�� Obstruct, hinder, delay
or interfere with, by force or otherwise, the commissioner in the exercise of
any power or the discharge of any function or duty under the provisions of�
P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.); or
���� (2)�� Prepare, utter or render
any false statement, report, document, plans or specifications permitted or
required to be prepared, uttered or rendered under the provisions of� P.L.1967,
c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.); or
���� (3)�� Render ineffective or
inoperative any protective equipment installed, or intended to be installed, in
any hotel or multiple dwelling; or
���� (4)�� Refuse or fail to comply
with any lawful ruling, action, order or notice of the commissioner; or
���� (5)�� Violate, or cause to be
violated, any of the provisions of� P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.).
���� (b)�� Any person who violates,
or causes to be violated, any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall
be liable to a penalty of not less than
[
$50.00
]
$500
nor more than
[
$500.00
]
$2,000
for each violation, and a penalty of not less than
[
$500.00
]
$2,000
nor more than
[
$5,000.00
]
$10,000
for each continuing violation.� Penalties imposed for violations relating to
[
child-protection
]
window guards
pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) shall be
no less than $100 for each window or incident.� Whenever a violator is
convicted of knowingly continuing to violate a provision of P.L.1995, c.120
(C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) relating to
[
child-protection
]
window guards
after the imposition of a penalty of $5,000 pursuant to this section,
or one
year after the first inspection related to window guards following the
enactment of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill), whichever is later,
the violator shall be guilty of a crime of
the fourth degree.� Where any violation of subsection (a) of this section is of
a continuing nature, each day during which such continuing violation remains
unabated after the date fixed by the commissioner in any order or notice for
the correction or termination of such continuing violation, shall constitute an
additional, separate and distinct violation, except during the time an appeal
from said order may be taken or is pending.� The commissioner, in the exercise
of his administrative authority pursuant to
[
this
act
]
P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.)
, may levy and collect penalties in the
amounts set forth in this section.� Where the administrative penalty order has not
been satisfied within 30 days of its issuance the penalty may be sued for, and
recovered by and in the name of the commissioner in a civil action by a summary
proceeding under "The Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999,
c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.) in the Superior Court.
���� (c)�� Any person shall be
deemed to have violated, or to have caused to be violated, any provision of
subsection (a) of this section whenever any officer, agent or employee thereof,
under the control of and with the knowledge of said person shall have violated
or caused to be violated any of the provisions of subsection (a) of this
section.
���� (d)�� The commissioner may
cancel and revoke any permit, approval or certificate required or permitted to
be granted or issued to any person pursuant to the provisions of
[
this act
]
P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.)
if the commissioner shall find that any such
person has violated, or caused to be violated, any of the provisions of
subsection (a) of this section.
���� (e)�� Any penalties collected
pursuant to this section levied as the result of a violation of subsection (w)
of section 7 of P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-7) and which occurred pursuant to
inspection for lead-based paint hazards shall be deposited in the Lead Hazard
Control Assistance fund established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2003, c.311
(C.52:27D-437.4).� Penalties levied as the result of multiple violations shall
be allocated to the Lead Hazard Control Assistance fund in such proportion as
the commissioner shall prescribe.
(cf: P.L.2006, c.55, s.6)
���� 6.� (New section)� Each
multiple dwelling shall be inspected once every two years for the purpose of
determining the extent to which each multiple dwelling complies with the
provisions of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) and regulations
promulgated thereunder.� The inspection required pursuant to this section shall
also inspect each window in the multiple dwelling for violations of the State
Uniform Construction Code, adopted pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1975, c.217
(C.52:27D-123), and other applicable laws, and require the correction of any
identified violation.
���� 7.� (New section)� The
governing body of a municipality may adopt an ordinance requiring each
residential rental dwelling to be inspected once every two years for the
purpose of: (1) determining the extent to which each residential rental
dwelling complies with the provisions of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et
seq.) and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (2) inspecting each
applicable window for violations of the State Uniform Construction Code,
adopted pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-123), and other
applicable laws.� The ordinance may provide an exemption for a residential
rental dwelling unit if it is not required to have window guards installed
pursuant to P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.).� The ordinance may impose
a fee of no more than $100 per inspection to be paid by the landlord.� If a
municipality does not adopt an ordinance pursuant to this section, then the
model ordinance published pursuant to section 8 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be applicable in the
municipality.
���� 8.� (New section)� The
Department of Community Affairs shall publish and make available on the
department�s Internet website a model ordinance requiring each residential
rental dwelling to be inspected once every two years for the purpose of
determining the extent to which each residential rental dwelling complies with
the provisions of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) and regulations
promulgated thereunder.� The model ordinance shall provide an exemption for a
residential rental dwelling unit if it is not required to have window guards
installed pursuant to P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) and shall impose
a fee of no more than $100 per inspection to be paid to the municipality or
enforcing agency by the landlord.
���� 9.� (New section)� The
Commissioner of Community Affairs shall solicit submissions from companies that
sell, install, or sell and install window guards that comply with all
applicable law, rules, and regulations.� The commissioner shall include
compliant submitted companies in a list of window guard providers.� The
commissioner shall publish the list of window guard providers on the
department�s Internet website.
���� 10.� (New section)� The
Department of Community Affairs shall establish an application process to
certify a contractor as a qualified contractor for the installation of glass
windows.� The department shall publish a list of qualified contractors certified
to install windows on the department�s Internet website.
���� 11.� (New section)� P.L.��� ,
c.��� (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be known as the
"Justin Christian El-Abiad, Robert E. Dwight, Jr., Raquan Ellis, Zahir
Atkins, and Sebastien Manzalaoui Act."
���� 12.� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall apply retroactively to all leases and lease
renewals entered into before enactment that apply to a continuing occupancy.
STATEMENT
���� This bill, the "Justin
Christian El-Abiad, Robert E. Dwight, Jr., Raquan Ellis, Zahir Atkins, and
Sebastien Manzalaoui Act," amends and supplements the "Robert E.
Dwight, Jr., Raquan Ellis and Zahir Atkins Memorial Child-Protection Window
Guard Law" to require the installation and maintenance of window guards in
the windows of a rental unit and the common areas of a multiple dwelling in
which a child 13 years of age or under, any person with a disability, as
defined� in subsection q. of section 5 of P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-5), or a
person with an intellectual disability, as defined in N.J.S.3B:1-2, resides,
will reside, or are regularly present for a substantial period of time.� The
bill also changes certain references to "child-protection window
guards" to "window guards" to reflect the broader categories of
persons contemplated under the bill.
���� The bill: (1) removes the
requirement that a tenant must request window guards but still authorizes the
tenant to make such requests; (2) requires the installation and maintenance of
window guards in a unit where a person with a disability, as defined in the
bill, resides or is regularly present for a substantial period of time; and (3)
requires that window guards be installed in certain windows in a residential
building when a tenant gains possession of a unit where a child 13 years of age
or under, or person with a disability, resides or is regularly present for a
substantial period of time or upon a request.� The bill specifies timing for
the imposition of criminal penalties related to continuous violations of the
bill�s requirements, and alters certain notice requirements related to the
current "opt-in" policy removed by the bill and amends the penalty
provision to provide a window of time to achieve compliance with the bill.
���� The bill further requires that
multiple dwellings are inspected every two years for compliance with the
"Robert E. Dwight, Jr., Raquan Ellis and Zahir Atkins Memorial
Child-Protection Window Guard Law," P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et
seq.) and the State Uniform Construction Code, section 5 of P.L.1975, c.217
(C.52:27D-123).� The bill authorizes each municipality to adopt an ordinance
requiring the inspection of residential rental dwellings every two years for
compliance with the provisions of the "Robert E. Dwight, Jr., Raquan Ellis
and Zahir Atkins Memorial Child-Protection Window Guard Law," P.L.1995,
c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) and the State Uniform Construction Code, section
5 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-123).� The bill further directs the Department
of Community Affairs to publish and make available on its Internet website a
model ordinance.� A municipality�s ordinance may impose a fee of no more than
$100 per inspection to be paid by the landlord.� If a municipality does not
adopt its own ordinance, the model ordinance would be applicable in the
municipality.
���� The bill additionally directs
the Commissioner of Community Affairs to solicit submissions from companies
that sell or install legally compliant window guards for a list of window guard
providers to be published on the Department of Community Affairs� Internet
website.
���� The bill specifies that a
window on which a window guard is required to be installed is required to be
made of glass and installed by a qualified contractor, certified by the
department to install windows.� The bill requires the department to establish a
certification process and publish a list of each certified contractor on the
department�s Internet website.
���� The bill further specifies
that a tenant subject to a violation of P.L.1995, c.120 (C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.)
may request to be relocated by a landlord to another unit, or to other
accommodations, until the violation has been remedied.� The bill further specifies
that if a landlord fails to comply with the provisions of P.L.1995, c.120
(C.55:13A-7.12 et seq.) and a child or person dies as a result, at least in
part, of the compliance failure, and not as a result of suicide, then the
landlord may be charged with a homicide that constitutes manslaughter, pursuant
to subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:11-4.� The bill additionally increases the
existing financial penalties for individual and recurring violations of
provisions of the "Robert E. Dwight, Jr., Raquan Ellis and Zahir Atkins
Memorial Child-Protection Window Guard Law."
���� The bill takes effect
immediately and applies retroactively to all leases and lease renewals entered
into before enactment that apply to a continuing occupancy.