Bill > S4995

Introduced Session

This bill creates the "Veterans Bill of Rights Act." Under the bill, the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide to each veteran residing in this State a physical copy and electronic copy of the Veterans Bill of Rights, publish and maintain on the department's Internet website an electronic copy of the Veterans Bill of Rights, and maintain a physical copy of the most recent version of the Veterans Bill of Rights in each facility of the department. The Veterans Bill of Rights will inform a veteran of the rights and benefits to which the veteran may be entitled under the laws of this State. Such rights and benefits will include, but not be limited to, the right to: fair treatment; be informed of all eligible programs and benefits available; privacy; access to quality care; mental health and family support services; employment and housing assistance; accessibility in services and facilities; involvement in decisions affecting their care plans, treatment options, and benefits; transparency in benefits adjudication; and consistent and proactive communication. The bill also provides that the department will maintain a toll-free hotline and a publicly-accessible department Internet website through which a veteran may report a complaint regarding compliance by the department with the provisions of the bill. The bill specifies that the department is to respond to a veteran's complaint no later than 30 days after the department receives the complaint. Also under the bill, not later than once each year, the commissioner will submit to the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, or their successor committees, a report regarding compliance by the department with the provisions of the bill. Each report will include, but not be limited to, the following elements with regards to the preceding year: the total number of complaints received; the median response times for complaints; the percentage of complaints resolved within 30 days; the number of corrective actions taken or policy changes made as a result of complaints or identified noncompliance; the number of veterans provided information or referrals for community care; and recommendations, if any, of the commissioner for legislative or administrative action to further the purposes of the bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Carmen Amato (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee (on 12/15/2025)

Official Document