Bill Text: NJ S2256 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DMVA to encourage and facilitate returning service members' registration with VA. *
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-12-07 - Substituted by A3499 (1R) [S2256 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S2256-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DMVA to register returning service members with VA.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to register returning service members with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and amending N.J.S.38A:3-6.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.38A:3-6 is amended to read as follows:
38A:3-6. Under the direction of the Governor, the Adjutant General shall:
(a) Exercise control over the affairs of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and in connection therewith make and issue such regulations governing the work of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and the conduct of its employees as may, in his judgment, be necessary or desirable.
(b) Be the request officer of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs within the meaning of such term as defined in section 1 of P.L.1944, c.112 (C.52:27B-1).
(c) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1988, c.138.)
(d) Command the organized militia of the State, with responsibility for recruiting, mobilization, administration, training, discipline, equipping, supply and general efficiency thereof. He may issue such regulations and delegate such command functions as he shall deem necessary. The regulations so issued shall, insofar as possible, conform to the federal laws and regulations concerning the same.
(e) Maintain the archives and be the custodian of the records and papers required, by laws or regulations, to be filed with the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs.
(f) Supervise, administer and coordinate those activities of the selective service system for which the Governor is responsible.
(g) Acquire by gift, grant, purchase, exchange, eminent domain, or in any other lawful manner, in the name of and for the use of the State of New Jersey, all those parcels of land as shall be necessary for armories and other militia facilities, and supervise the design, construction, alteration, maintenance and repair of said property.
(h) Establish and maintain such headquarters as may be required for the militia.
(i) Exercise the powers vested in him and perform such other duties and functions as required of him by the Governor and by federal and State laws and regulations.
(j) Exercise all of the functions, powers and duties heretofore vested in the Director of the Division on Veterans' Programs and Special Services.
(k) Appoint and remove officers and other personnel employed within the department, subject to the provisions of N.J.S.38A:3-8 and Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes and other applicable statutes, except as herein otherwise specifically provided.
(l) Have authority to organize and maintain an administrative division and to assign to employment therein secretarial, clerical and other assistants in the department or the Adjutant General's Office for the purpose of providing centralized support to all segments of the department, including budgeting, personnel administration and oversight of equal opportunity programs.
(m) Perform, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of the department through such divisions as may be established by this act or otherwise by law.
(n) Organize the work of the department in divisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this act and in bureaus and other organizational units as the Adjutant General may determine to be necessary for efficient and effective operation.
(o) Adopt, issue and promulgate, in the name of the department, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be authorized by law.
(p) Institute, or cause to be instituted, legal proceedings or processes as necessary to properly enforce and give effect to any of the Adjutant General's powers or duties.
(q) Make an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature of the department's operations, and render other reports as the Governor shall from time to time request or as may be required by law.
(r) Coordinate the activities of the department, and the several divisions and other agencies therein, in a manner designed to eliminate overlapping and duplicative functions.
(s) Integrate within the department, so far as practicable, all staff services of the department and of several divisions and other agencies therein.
(t) Request access to all relevant files and records of other State agencies, which may be made available to the Adjutant General by the head of a State agency, and request, subject to the permission of the head of the State agency, any officer or employee therein to provide information as necessary to assist in the performance of the functions of the department.
(u) Supervise and operate the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Menlo Park, the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Vineland, the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Paramus and the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Cemetery-Arneytown.
(v) Supervise and operate the liaison office and the field offices which serve the federal Veterans' Affairs Medical Centers.
(w) Make application for federal grants and programs, other than education grants or funds.
(x) Administer the federally-funded training and rehabilitation programs, except for the administration of federally-funded education and training programs set forth in 38 U.S.C. s.36 et seq.
(y) Provide current information to the general public on State and federal veterans' programs and benefits.
(z) Develop and administer the New Jersey Homeless Veterans Grant Program established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2013, c.239 (C.38A:3-6.2b).
(aa) Register, or cause to be registered, each service member residing in New Jersey with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor agency. Registration shall take place, as appropriate, when the service member returns from deployment on federal active duty or is discharged or as soon as possible thereafter. The term "service member" shall mean members of the New Jersey National Guard and members of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, when the information on each member is made available to the department.
(cf: P.L.2013, c.239, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to register each service member residing in New Jersey with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Registration will take place, as appropriate, when the service member returns from deployment on federal active duty or is discharged or as soon as possible thereafter. The term "service member" is defined to mean members of the New Jersey National Guard and members of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, when the information on each member is made available to the department.
