ASSEMBLY MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4941

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 4, 2025

      The Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4941.

      Current law provides that a teaching staff member may receive up to four years of credit, in computing length of service for seniority purposes, for military service.  This bill provides a similar benefit to educational support professionals.

      Under the bill, as amended by the committee, every educational support professional who has served in the active military of the United States and is declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be eligible for federal veterans’ benefits is to receive equivalent years of employment or seniority credit, up to four years, for that service as if the professional had been employed for the same period of time at the school district.  Any military service is to be credited towards this employment or seniority credit, including service that occurred prior to the professional’s employment as an educational support professional.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to reflect that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for determining eligibility to receive federal veterans’ benefits.