9. a. There is created in the State Treasury an account which shall be called the Emergency Lead Poisoning Relocation Fund. There is appropriated, from the funds in the “Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund,” established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1987, c.370 (C. 26:2-150), $1,000,000 for the purpose of emergency relocation assistance for lead poisoned children for deposit into the Emergency Lead Poisoning Relocation Fund.

b. Whenever a child who has tested positive for lead poisoning is removed from his dwelling unit in connection with an order to abate a lead-based paint hazard from a local or State health official, or upon the order of the Commissioner of Community Affairs, payments from the fund created pursuant to this section shall be authorized for the purpose of providing emergency relocation assistance to that child and the child’s family.

c. All balances in the Emergency Lead Poisoning Relocation Fund are appropriated for the purposes of that fund.

d. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a payment made from the funds appropriated from the “Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund” for the purposes in this section shall be authorized regardless of whether the relocation assistance is covered by any other State or federal program or any insurance contract and regardless of whether such expense will exceed 10% of the first $100,000 of annual income of a family plus 15% of the excess income over $100,000 provided that if reimbursement is received from the landlord, federal or State sources or from insurance proceeds, such reimbursement shall be directed to reimburse the fund for expenses paid under this section. Payment limitations set forth in the “Relocation Assistance Act,” P.L.1971, c.362 (C. 20:4-1 et seq.) shall not apply to payments under this section.

L.2003,c.311,s.9.