SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1859

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 16, 2024

      The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1859.

      This bill requires a clinic that is part of the extramural network of dental clinics established by the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, or by any other dental school of a public institution of higher education, to give priority to 100 percent disabled veterans in scheduling appointments at the dental clinic. 

     In giving priority to a 100 percent disabled veteran, a dental clinic is required to ensure that an oral health treatment appointment for the veteran is scheduled in a timely manner and that the time between the scheduling of the medical appointment and the occurrence of the appointment does not exceed 30 days.

      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.