ASSEMBLY MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2559

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 8, 2021

      The Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2559.

      As amended, this bill would increase the annual payments by the State to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities to $1,800.

      Currently, a blind veteran receives $750 annually under the Blind Veterans’ Allowance Program.  This amount has not been changed since 1971.  A veteran with certain other disabilities also receives $750 annually under the Paraplegic and Hemiplegic Veterans’ Allowance Program.  This amount has not been changed since 1981.  This bill would increase the annual payments to $1,800.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to update the administering agencies.  The administering agencies were previously changed, but this section of law was not updated to reflect the change.  The changes will make the bill identical to Senate Bill No. 2565.