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Bill > A5489
NJ A5489
NJ A5489Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of US Armed Forces, NJ National Guard, and reserve component of US Armed Forces; creates permanent commission to study various definitions related to veteran status.
summary
Introduced
03/20/2025
03/20/2025
In Committee
03/20/2025
03/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill establishes a task force on returning members of the United States Armed Forces and reserve components, and the New Jersey National Guard. The purpose of the task force will be to identify and review the issues and concerns facing members of the United States Armed Forces, New Jersey National Guard, and a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces returning from overseas deployments involving the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and recommend the measures the State should take to address and remedy the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate. The task force will: 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; identify effective strategies for promoting lifelong physical, social, emotional, and mental health of service members and their families; and develop recommendations to implement those strategies, including legislation if appropriate. The task force will prepare and issue a final report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation that it deems appropriate. The task force will expire 30 days after submission of its report. The bill also creates a permanent study commission to study the definitions related to veteran status. The study commission will: compile and analyze the various definitions of "veteran," "disabled veteran," "service-disabled veteran," and any other definition of veteran in the statutes; identify statutes with unique and restrictive requirements for the various definitions and determine if the requirements may be revised to achieve more uniform definitions; identify potential revisions to be made to the statutes to provide for a clearer understanding of the requirements for qualification under the various definitions; consult with the military community for expertise and input; and use the findings of the study commission, and the expertise from the military community, to recommend changes to the various definitions and submit the findings, conclusions, and recommendations in its annual reports.
AI Summary
This bill establishes two key entities to support veterans in New Jersey: a temporary task force and a permanent study commission. The task force, consisting of 13 members including state commissioners and public members with expertise in veterans' issues, will focus on identifying and addressing challenges facing US Armed Forces members, New Jersey National Guard, and reserve component members returning from Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The task force will examine current research on the physical, social, emotional, and mental impacts of military service, identify strategies to promote service members' and their families' long-term health, and develop recommendations, including potential legislation. The task force must submit a final report within six months of organizing and will automatically dissolve 30 days after report submission. Simultaneously, a permanent five-member study commission will be created to review and standardize definitions of terms like "veteran," "disabled veteran," and "service-disabled veteran" across state statutes. This commission will analyze existing definitions, identify potential revisions to make them more uniform and less restrictive, consult with the military community, and submit annual reports with findings and recommendations to state leadership, with the first report due within 12 months of the commission's organization.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee (on 03/20/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5489 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A5500/5489_I1.HTM |
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