SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 2471
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: AUGUST 20, 2020
The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2471.
Veterans, surviving spouses, and their families have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This bill provides a one-time relief grant of $1,000 to veterans or surviving spouses to help mitigate the negative effects and financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey. This bill also provides a one-time special needs grant, not to exceed $2,000, to a veteran or surviving spouse who needs immediate financial assistance due to a COVID-19 related event.
Under the bill, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will administer the application process for the grants. The Adjutant General will determine the process, and establish the eligibility documentation for a person to be considered a qualified applicant. A qualified applicant seeking to participate in the program will submit an application in such form as will be required by the department. An application may be denied if there are insufficient moneys in the grant fund. An applicant must be a New Jersey resident.
Any money approved under the special needs grant will go directly to the vendor or creditor of the applicant, and no special needs grant money will be issued directly to the applicant or a member of the applicant’s family.
The State Treasurer will administer the grant fund, which will be credited with: (1) moneys received by the department as gifts, grants, or donations; (2) moneys that the Legislature may appropriate; and (3) other moneys made available including, but not limited to, funds provided by the federal government.
For the purposes of the bill, "veteran" means a person who has been honorably discharged, or discharged or released under other than dishonorable conditions, from the active military service of the United States, or a Reserve Component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard.