NJ Democrat, GOP Lawmakers Team Up For ‘Code Blue’ Bill

NEW JERSEY — They’re staying open longer. They’re serving more people, including many experiencing homelessness. And the community groups that make “Code Blues” possible in New Jersey should get some more funding, too, a Republican lawmaker says.

On Thursday, the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously voted to advance S-3600. The proposed law was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for further review. A companion bill has been introduced in the New Jersey Assembly.

If it becomes law, the bill would create a state grant program to aid community-based nonprofits that provide shelter services during Code Blue alerts.

What is a Code Blue? And why is there a need for more funding? According to Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-40), one of the primary sponsors of the bill:

“Municipalities, social service agencies, and certain nonprofit organizations provide warming shelters for at-risk individuals when counties declare a Code Blue Emergency. In 2020, legislation was enacted to expand the use of Code Blue alerts due to concerns that previous temperature requirements were leaving homeless residents at risk during severe winter weather. As a result, the temperature required to trigger a Code Blue alert was increased from 25 degrees Fahrenheit to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. These new regulations instructed warming shelters to open more frequently and for longer periods of times.”

If it becomes law, the bipartisan bill proposed by Corrado and Sen. Nellie Pou (D-35) would establishing a Code Blue Shelter Matching Grant Program, which would be run by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

To qualify for a matching grant from the DCA, organizations must have received a grant from a county or municipality within 12 months of applying for the program. Additionally, the bill prohibits the DCA from awarding grants more than $50,000.

The DCA would be required to maintain a record of each grant awarded to qualified organizations in every county and municipality.

“The services that our community-based organizations provide during extreme weather conditions are essential for protecting New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents,” Corrado said.

“Legislative changes made to Code Blue alerts in recent years has led to more people using warming shelters when the temperature drops below freezing,” the senator continued. “Since they’re serving more people and staying open longer, these shelters can use more funding to support their operations.”

“The combination of Cold Blue alerts and warming shelters helps to save lives,” Corrado said.

The Code Blue bill isn’t the first time that Corrado and Pou have reached across the aisle in recent history.

In February, the Senate unanimously passed their bill, S-761, which would require the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue – upon request – a driver’s license or non-driver identification card that indicates the holder’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or communication order.

• See Related: When New Jersey Dems, GOP Agree (Going Beyond Blue And Red)

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