SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2493

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  OCTOBER 6, 2022

 

     The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2493.

     This bill defines indigent veteran for county veteran interment purposes.  Current law does not define indigent, but under this bill, “indigent” will mean a person who has an income that is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.  “Poverty level” will mean the official poverty level based on family size established and adjusted under the “Community Services Block Grant Act,” of Pub.L.97-35 (42 U.S.C. s.9902(2)).

      The bill adds National cemeteries as a permissible burial site for a deceased indigent veteran.  The bill also changes the discharge status of the veteran from honorable discharge to other than dishonorable, encompassing a larger number of veterans.