40A:12A-84 Community advisory board.

11. a. Within six months after designation by the municipality, the land bank entity shall create a community advisory board, which shall consist of representatives of recognized community associations and non-profit organizations operating within the municipality, including those associations and organizations active in areas where the land bank entity anticipates holding properties.

b. The land bank entity shall adopt policies and procedures to ensure that the community advisory board is provided with adequate information and opportunity to provide valued input into the decisions of the land bank entity in its capacity as a land bank entity.

c. (1) In coordination with the municipality and the community advisory board, the land bank entity shall, within a reasonable time, create, maintain, and make publicly available on its Internet website, a database listing all current and former land bank properties, each owner of record since each property became a land bank property, and the sales price of each land bank property that has been purchased by the land bank entity on behalf of the municipality. Beginning 30 days after the date on which a land bank entity publishes a database pursuant to this subsection and every six months thereafter, in accordance with the guidance provided by the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs pursuant to subsection e. of this section, the land bank entity shall update those State agencies identified by the division concerning any changes to the database. To the extent that the database includes properties in foreclosure proceedings, and properties foreclosed within the six-month reporting period, the land bank entity shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the information provided is both accurate and consistent with any corresponding information provided by any State agency, or by the Judiciary.

(2) In coordination with the municipality and the community advisory board, the land bank entity is encouraged to incorporate into the online database:

(a) a list of all vacant and abandoned properties within the municipality;

(b) a mechanism to allow the public to offer suggestions concerning what properties should be labeled as vacant and abandoned; and

(c) an interactive mapping component to allow the public to visualize the impact of land banking and the extent of vacant and abandoned properties within the municipality.

d. On an annual basis at minimum, the community advisory board shall report on the accuracy, integrity, accessibility, and comprehensiveness of the database established pursuant to subsection c. of this section. Each annual report shall be accessible to the public through the internet website of the municipality and the land bank entity. The fact that a land bank entity has failed to comply with the database requirement under subsection c. of this section shall be prominently noted in each annual report, but no other penalty shall inure to that failure.

e. The Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs shall, within six months of the effective date of P.L.2019, c.159 (C.40A:12A-74 et al.), publish and disseminate a guidebook of good practice for creating and maintaining databases established pursuant to subsection c. of this section.

L.2019, c.159, s.11.