Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
Assemblyman MATTHEW W. MILAM
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman GILBERT "WHIP" L. WILSON
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen McHose, Mosquera, Assemblymen DiMaio and Peterson
SYNOPSIS
Creates Veterans Haven North Council; renames current Veterans Haven Council to Veterans Haven South Council.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act creating a Veterans Haven North Council and amending P.L.2011, c.170.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2011, c.170 (C.38A:3-47) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. There is created within the Division of Veterans' Services in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs [an] two advisory [council] councils to be known as [the] Veterans Haven North Council and Veterans Haven South Council. The Veterans Haven North Council shall represent the northern facility and the Veterans Haven South Council shall represent the southern facility. The two councils shall have joint meetings no less than once each calendar year.
[The] Each council shall consist of eight members, at least five of whom are veterans, and shall include no less than two women. The Deputy Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs, or a designee, shall serve as a nonvoting ex-officio member on each council. Each member shall be appointed by the Adjutant General with the approval of the Governor. The term of each council member shall be three years, except that of the first appointments pursuant to this section, two shall be for a term of one year, two for a term of two years, and three for a term of three years. At no time shall a member be allowed to serve more than two terms in the aggregate, or on both councils at the same time.
b. The members of each council shall nominate a chairperson by majority vote of the members, and four members shall constitute a majority. The chairperson of [the] each council shall be its presiding officer and shall serve until a successor has been nominated by the council.
c. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Members of the council shall be subject to removal by the Adjutant General at any time for good and sufficient cause.
d. The members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for actual expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for this purpose.
(cf: P.L.2011, c.170, s.1)
2. Section 2 of P.L.2011, c.170 (C.38A:3-48) is amended to read as follows:
2. Under general policies established by the Adjutant General, [the] each Veterans Haven council shall:
a. Formulate comprehensive policies for the coordination of all services for the benefit of veterans housed at the Veterans Haven [facility] facilities;
b. Consult with and advise the Deputy Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs and the Director of Veterans' Services with respect to the work of each Veterans Haven facility;
c. Recommend standards and procedures for application and termination of eligibility for admission to each Veterans Haven facility; and
d. Recommend standards of care, treatment and discipline governing the relationship between each Veterans Haven facility and the persons admitted thereto.
(cf: P.L.2011, c.170, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
There is a Veterans Haven facility for homeless veterans located in Camden County. It serves veterans from all over the State of New Jersey. During the summer of 2012, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs opened another Veterans Haven facility. It is in Hunterdon County, and also serves veterans from all over the State of New Jersey. With the opening of the new facility, the Camden facility became Veterans Haven South and the Hunterdon facility became Veterans Haven North.
This bill will create a Veterans Haven North Council to coexist with the current council, renamed the Veterans Haven South Council, to create one council for each facility. The two councils shall have joint meetings no less than once each calendar year Each council will consist of eight members. The Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs will serve as a nonvoting ex–officio member on both councils. Each member will be appointed by the Adjutant General with the approval of the Governor. The term of each council member will be three years. Members of the council are subject to removal by the Adjutant General at any time for good and sufficient cause.
Each Veterans Haven council will formulate policies for the co-ordination of services for the veterans housed at their respective facility and advise the Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and the Director of Veterans Services with respect to the work of Veterans Haven North and Veterans Haven South, recommend standards and procedures for application and termination of eligibility for admission to each respective facility, and recommend standards of care, treatment and discipline governing the relationship between each Veterans Haven facility and the persons admitted thereto.