CS/HB 191 - Neighborhood Improvement Districts Summary

• Renames the "Safe Neighborhoods Act" to the "Neighborhoods Improvement Act" and modernizes terminology throughout related statutes while maintaining core district creation and governance structures.

• Changes notification requirement for neighborhood improvement districts from registering with Department of Community Affairs and Department of Legal Affairs to notifying the Department of Economic Opportunity within 30 days of establishment.

• Authorizes municipalities and counties to create neighborhood improvement districts through adoption of a regular ordinance (rather than requiring a planning ordinance) and allows districts to borrow money, issue bonds, levy ad valorem taxes up to 2 mills, and collect special assessments subject to freeholder referendum approval.

• Repeals seven statutes related to Safe Neighborhoods Programs, including provisions on crime prevention through community policing innovations, state redevelopment programs, enterprise zone funding, and community organization involvement that are no longer needed.

• Requires neighborhood improvement plans for all districts containing specific elements including demographics, crime data analysis, crime prevention strategies, cost estimates, and evaluation guidelines, with plans subject to local comprehensive plan consistency review.

• Effective July 1, 2012.