Bill Text: NJ A4195 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Modifies requirements for receipt of distinguished service medal; codifies qualifications for receipt of meritorious service medal.*
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-2)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2018-01-08 - Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (71-0-0) [A4195 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A4195-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 4195
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman R. BRUCE LAND
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblywoman PATRICIA EGAN JONES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Space
SYNOPSIS
Modifies requirements for receipt of distinguished service medal; codifies qualifications for receipt of meritorious service medal.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee on December 11, 2017, with amendments.
An Act concerning service medals for members of the military and veterans and amending N.J.S.38A:15-2.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.38A:15-2 is amended to read as follows:
38A:15-2. The Governor may present in the name of the State of New Jersey a distinguished service medal of appropriate design, and ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to[:
a.] any person who is a member of the organized militia or the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, or who was honorably discharged therefrom, if the person was a resident upon entry into service or has been a resident of this State for at least 20 years in the aggregate. [who] To qualify for a distinguished service medal, the person, while serving in [any capacity under orders of the Governor] the organized militia, or while in federal service, 1[shall have been distinguished by especially meritorious service and]1 [who has been or may be] 1[cited in orders for distinguished service by the Governor or by appropriate federal authority]1[;] 1[or]1 shall have served in a combat theater of operations 1during a time of war or emergency as attested to by the awarding of an honorable discharge and DD 214 or WD 53 by the respective Armed Forces or shall have been officially listed as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the United States Department of Defense1. The distinguished service medal may be awarded to a deceased person who would have qualified for the medal pursuant to this section.
The Governor may present in the name of the State of New Jersey a meritorious service medal of appropriate design, and ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person who is a member of the organized militia, or 1the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof1 who was honorably discharged therefrom, 1if the person was a resident upon entry into service or1 if the person has been a resident of this State for at least five years in the aggregate. To qualify for a meritorious service medal, the person 1[, while serving] shall have served1 in the organized militia, or 1[while in federal service, shall have been distinguished by either (a) meritorious achievement resulting in an accomplishment that was not lifesaving, but which was so exceptional and outstanding as to set the person apart from the person's peers or from another person in similar circumstance, or (b) meritorious service in support of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs or the organized militia in the performance of a special requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in a clearly exceptional manner] the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof1 . The meritorious service medal may be awarded to a deceased person who would have qualified for the medal pursuant to this section.
[b. any resident or former resident of the State of New Jersey who was a resident of this State at the time of entry into active military service or who has been a resident of this State for at least twenty 20 years in the aggregate and (1) who while serving in the organized militia or in federal military service on active duty in time of war or emergency, shall have been distinguished by especially meritorious service and who has been or may be cited in orders for distinguished service by the Governor or by appropriate federal authority or (2) who shall have seen active military service in the Armed Forces of the United States of America in a combat theater of operations during time of war or emergency as attested to by the awarding of an honorable discharge and DD 214 or WD 53 by the respective Armed Force;
c. any deceased person who, on the date of induction into the organized militia or federal military service, was a resident of this State or who was a resident of this State at the time of death and for at least 20 years in the aggregate immediately preceding death and (1) who, while serving in the organized militia or in federal military service on active duty in time of war or emergency, shall have been distinguished by especially meritorious service and who has been or may be cited in orders for distinguished service by the Governor or appropriate federal authority or (2) who shall have seen active military service in the Armed Forces of the United States of America in a combat theater of operations during time of war or emergency as attested to by the awarding of an honorable discharge and DD 214 or WD 53 by the respective Armed Force or who, having seen such service, died while on active duty as evidenced by DD 1300; or
d.] 1[The Governor may award a distinguished service medal to any person who, on the date of]1 [induction] 1[entry into the organized militia or]1 [federal military service] 1[the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, was a resident of this State or who]1 [is currently a resident of this State and] 1[has been a resident for at least 20 years in the aggregate and who, while serving in the organized militia or in federal military service]1 [on active duty in time of war or emergency] 1[, shall have been officially listed as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the United States Department of Defense.]1
The service medal for a deceased person or a person absent as a prisoner of war or missing in action shall be issued to the parent, spouse, sibling or other relative who submits all of the required forms and documentation on behalf of that person.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.309, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
