SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1065

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 16, 2024

      The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1065.

This bill establishes the New Jersey Veteran Services Grant Program to assist veterans in applying for and receiving State and federal benefits and to provide training for veterans service officers employed by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).

     The grants will be awarded to qualified veterans’ organizations on a competitive basis based on criteria developed by DMVA.  An application for a grant must have a detailed outline of the training that will be provided to State veterans service officers or the number of additional veterans service officers the organization will provide to assist veterans with applying for and receiving State and federal benefits, or both.  Implementation of the grant program would be subject to a future appropriation by the Legislature.

     Under the bill, “qualified veterans' organization” is defined as a nonprofit veterans' organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization.

     This bill also appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the department to defray the costs of the grant program.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.