S4246

An Act establishing a Veterans Care Commission to study and address the issues and concerns of certain returning military members and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 38A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is established in the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs a Veterans Care Commission. The commission shall consist of the following 11 members:

(1) the Commissioner of Education, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;

(2) the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;

(3) the Commissioner of Health, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;

(4) the Commissioner of Human Services, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;

(5) the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;

(6) the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio; and

(7) five public members, who shall be appointed by the Adjutant General within 30 days after the effective date of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), with at least three persons each representing a different qualified veterans’ organization.

b. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. The public members of the commission shall serve for a term of five years, except that of the members first appointed, three shall be appointed for a term of three years and two shall be appointed for a term of two years, as determined by the Adjutant General. The public members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the commission.

c. The commission shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of its members and shall choose a chairperson from among its members. The commission shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

d. The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson. The commission shall hold at least three public hearings in different parts of the State and elicit testimony from the public at such times and places as the chair shall designate. A meeting of the commission shall be called at the request of six of the commission’s members and six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum at any meeting thereof.

e. The Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs shall provide such clerical and other administrative assistance, and such professional staff, as the commission requires to carry out its work.

f. As used in this section, “qualified veterans’ organization” means 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.

2. a. The purpose of the commission shall be to (1) identify and review the issues and concerns facing members of the United States Armed Forces and the Reserve components thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard, and (2) recommend the measures the State should take to address and remedy the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate.

b. The commission shall:

(1) examine current data, research, programs, and initiatives related to the physical, social, emotional, and mental impact of military service upon service members and their families;

(2) identify effective strategies for promoting lifelong physical, social, emotional, and mental health of service members and their families; and

(3) develop recommendations to implement those strategies, including legislation if appropriate.

c. The commission shall prepare and issue an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and shall submit the report to the Governor, to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, or its successor, and to the General Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, or its successor. The first annual report shall be issued no later than 12 months after the commission organizes, and each subsequent annual report shall be issued no later than 12 months from the date of the last report.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a Veterans Care Commission in the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (DMVA) to study and address issues facing members of the United States Armed Forces and Reserve components thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. The commission will consist of the following 11 members: the Commissioners of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Health, and Human Services, or their designees; the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, or a designee; the Adjutant General of the DMVA, or a designee; and five public members to be appointed by the Adjutant General, with at least three persons each representing a different qualified veterans’ organization.

The purpose of the commission is to identify and review the issues and concerns facing service members and recommend the measures the State should take to address and remedy the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate.

The bill requires the commission to prepare and issue an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and submit the report to the Governor, the Legislature, the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, or its successor, and the General Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, or its successor. The first annual report will be issued no later than 12 months after the commission’s first organizational meeting.