Bill Text: NJ A4160 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides one-time financial assistance grant and one-time special needs grant to veterans or their surviving spouses for COVID-19 related events.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-28 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [A4160 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4160-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Provides one-time financial assistance grant and one-time special needs grant to veterans or their surviving spouses for COVID-19 related events.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act providing financial assistance grants to veterans or their surviving spouses for COVID-19 related events.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislatures finds and declares that veterans, surviving spouses, and their families have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These veterans served our country and State, and they and their families made many sacrifices during their service. It is essential that we support these veterans and their families in this time of need. A one-time financial assistance relief grant would help mitigate the negative effects and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a one-time special needs grant for COVID-19 related events would help mitigate their financial crisis, promote stability, and prevent homelessness.
2. a. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shall establish a temporary grant fund. The grant fund shall provide for a one-time financial assistance relief grant of $1,000 to veterans or their surviving spouses. The purpose of the grant shall be to mitigate the negative effects and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on veterans, surviving spouses, and their families.
b. For the purposes of this section, "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.
c. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shall determine the application process, and shall establish the eligibility documentation required for a person to be considered a qualified applicant. A qualified applicant seeking to participate in the program shall submit an application in such form as shall be required by the department.
To be qualified, the applicant shall be a New Jersey resident whose financial situation has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey.
d. The application shall be submitted to the department, and upon approval, the department, if adequate moneys are available, shall issue the grant. The Adjutant General may deny an applicant due to insufficient moneys available in the grant fund.
e. The Adjutant General
shall be responsible for determining whether any person seeking to be
considered a qualified applicant under this section, for the purpose of
receiving a grant, meets the eligibility requirements and adjudicating an
appeal from any person disputing this determination. The determination of the
Adjutant General shall be binding.
3. a. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shall establish a temporary grant fund. The grant fund shall provide for a one-time special needs grant. The purpose of the special needs grant shall be to provide financial assistance to a veteran or surviving spouse who needs immediate financial assistance due to a COVID-19 related event. A grant under this section may be provided in addition to a grant provided under section 2 of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The amount of the special needs grant shall not exceed $2,000.
b. For the purposes of this section, "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.
c. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shall determine the application process, and shall establish the eligibility documentation required for a person to be considered a qualified applicant. A qualified applicant seeking to participate in the program shall submit an application in such form as shall be required by the department.
To be qualified, the applicant shall be a New Jersey resident who needs immediate financial assistance due to a COVID-19 related event.
d. The application shall be submitted to the department, and upon approval, the department, if adequate moneys are available, shall issue the grant. Any grant issued shall be paid directly to a vendor or creditor of the applicant. No money shall be paid directly to the applicant or a member of the applicant's family. The Adjutant General may deny an applicant due to insufficient moneys available in the grant fund.
e. The Adjutant General shall be responsible for determining whether any person seeking to be considered a qualified applicant under this act, for the purpose of receiving a grant, meets the eligibility requirements and adjudicating an appeal from any person disputing this determination. The determination of the Adjutant General shall be binding.
4. a. The temporary grant funds established by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in accordance with sections 2 and 3 of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall be maintained as a separate accounts and administered by the Department of the Treasury to carry out the provisions of this act, P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
The State Treasurer shall administer the funds, which shall be credited with:
(1) moneys received by the State as gifts, grants, or donations for this purpose, including grants accepted by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1987, c.444 (C.38A:3-6.2);
(2) moneys that the Legislature may appropriate; and
(3) other moneys made available including, but not limited to, funds provided by the federal government.
b. The department may claim from the funds, an amount, which shall not exceed five percent of the moneys available in the fund, to cover administrative expenses.
5. The Adjutant General may adopt, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the first day of the 13th month after enactment.
STATEMENT
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.
