x Alert
On July 3, 2023, Governor Murphy signed into law P.L. 2023, c.93, which, among other things, requires sellers of real property located in New Jersey to make certain additional disclosures concerning flood risks on the “Seller’s Property Condition Disclosure Statement” (“Disclosure Statement”).

On December 21, 2023, the Division of Consumer Affairs (“Division”) published the amended version of the Disclosure Statement on its website which includes the new questions concerning flood risks required by the law. A copy of the amended Disclosure Statement is available here.

Answering these new questions concerning flood risks is mandatory under the law, as now codified in NJSA 56:8-19.2. Thus, effective March 20, 2024, all sellers of real property (including both residential and commercial property) must answer these questions (currently numbered 109-117 in the Disclosure Statement) before the purchaser becomes obligated under any contract for the purchase of the property. This is the case regardless of whether the remainder of the Disclosure Statement is being completed.

The Division expects to promulgate updated regulations in accordance with the law as well.

x Alert
The Division of Consumer Affairs issued an alert to support health care practitioners in their efforts to protect patient data and information from disclosure. This alert, available here, identifies steps that practitioners can take to avoid collecting unnecessary data and to safeguard the data that they do collect and store.

The Division of Consumer Affairs issued a Consumer Alert regarding crisis pregnancy centers. This alert is available here.

x Alert
SCAM ALERT
The Division of Consumer Affairs (Division) is warning all licensed professionals about individuals impersonating New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) investigators, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, DEA investigators, New Jersey Drug Control Unit investigators, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigators, and other law enforcement personnel, as part of an extortion scheme.

The impersonators are contacting licensees by telephone or letter, stating that they are the subject of an investigation. The callers are demanding money to clear up the matter, or threatening to revoke the individual’s license. Please be advised that the Division of Consumer Affairs will not contact licensees by telephone to discuss investigations or demand money.

Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be any of the above mentioned individuals seeking money, should refuse the demand. We encourage you to report the call to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You may also report the call to the Division at AskConsumerAffairs@lps.state.nj.us.