No individual receiving public assistance shall be housed in
any accommodation that does not have a valid certificate of occupancy
and/or rental permit issued by the municipality in which the housing
accommodation is located.
The Commissioner of Social Services is authorized, empowered,
and directed to obtain copies of certificates of occupancy and or/rental
permits from potential landlords before an individual is placed in
the subject housing accommodation and/or before any payment is paid
to said landlord.
The Commissioner of Social Services shall maintain records of
certificates of occupancy and/or rental permits for accommodations
used by the Department of Social Services to house recipients of public
assistance, and he or she shall obtain updated copies of said documents
should they expire.