STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman TENNILLE R. MCCOY
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes New Jersey Military Recruit Graduation Assistance Program in DMVA.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning a military recruit graduation assistance program and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 38A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a military recruit graduation assistance program. The purpose of the program shall be to assist immediate family members of military recruits who qualify as having a low income with the expenses of attending boot camp graduation.
b. As used in this section:
“Immediate family member” means a spouse, parent, child, or sibling whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption.
“Low income” means a gross annual household income equal to 50 percent or less of the median gross annual household income for households of the same size within the relevant housing region.
c. In establishing the program pursuant to this section, the department shall:
(1) develop guidelines and procedures for the submission of applications, and criteria for the evaluation of such applications;
(2) establish terms and conditions for the awarding of assistance under this section, and monitor recipients’ compliance with the terms and conditions; and
(3) maintain records of all awards made pursuant to this section.
No fee shall be charged to submit an application for the program established pursuant to this section.
d. The department shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to establish and implement the assistance program.
e. The Adjutant General shall include with the annual budget request for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a request for funds sufficient to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Currently, there are military recruits who graduate with no familial representation due to the costs associated with traveling to attend the graduation. This bill establishes a program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to assist immediate family members of military recruits who qualify as having a low income with the expenses of attending boot camp graduation. DMVA would be required to develop guidelines, procedures, and criteria for applications and awards. No fee will be charged to submit an application for the program. Implementation of the assistance program would be subject to a future appropriation by the Legislature.
The bill defines “immediate family member” as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption. The bill defines “low income” as a gross annual household income equal to 50 percent or less of the median gross annual household income for households of the same size within the relevant housing region.