Bill Text: NJ S1400 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of US Armed Forces, NJ National Guard, and reserve component of US Armed Forces; creates permanent commission to study various definitions related to veteran status.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-07-30 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [S1400 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S1400-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH PENNACCHIO
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of US Armed Forces, NJ National Guard, and reserve component of US Armed Forces and make recommendations to State on issues.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a task force on issues and concerns of returning members of the United States Armed Forces, New Jersey National Guard, and of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is established in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a task force to consist of the following 13 members: the Commissioners of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Health and Senior Services and Human Services, or their designees, serving as ex officio members; the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, or a designee, serving as an ex officio member; the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; a member of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Department of New Jersey; and a member of the Veterans' Services Council, as established by section 22 of P.L.1948, c.448 (C.13:1B-20). The Adjutant General shall appoint five public members, with at least three persons with knowledge or experience in one of the following areas: demobilization and post deployment; post traumatic stress disorder, family readiness groups or family assistance centers; employer support groups; veterans service officers; issues relevant to women in the military and veteran homeless shelters.
2. All appointments to the task force shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. The public members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force.
3. The task force shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of its members and shall choose a chairperson from among its members. The task force shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.
4. The task force shall
meet at the call of the chairperson. The task force shall hold at least three
public hearings in different parts of the State and elicit testimony from the
public at such times and places as the chair shall designate. A meeting of the
task force shall be called at the request of five of the task force's members
and five members of the task force shall constitute a quorum at any meeting
thereof.
5. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shall provide such clerical and other administrative assistants, and such professional staff, as the task force requires to carry out its work.
6. It shall be the duty of the task force to identify and review the issues and concerns facing members of the United States Armed Forces, New Jersey National Guard, and of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces returning from overseas deployments involving the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and recommend the measures the State should take to address and remedy the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate. For its deliberations, the task force shall:
a. examine current data, research, programs, and initiatives related to the physical, social, emotional and mental impact of military service upon servicemembers and their families;
b. identify effective strategies for promoting lifelong physical, social, emotional and mental health of servicemembers and their families; and
c. develop recommendations to implement those strategies, including legislation if appropriate.
7. The task force shall issue a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation that it deems appropriate, no later than six months after the task force organizes.
8. This act shall take effect immediately and the task force shall expire 30 days after issuance of its final report.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a task force in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to address issues facing members of the United States Armed Forces, New Jersey National Guard, and of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces returning from overseas deployments involving the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and make recommendations on how the State should address those issues. The task force will consist of the following 13 members: the Commissioners of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Health and Senior Services, and Human Services, or their designees; the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, or a designee; the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; a member of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Department of New Jersey; and a member of the Veterans' Services Council. The Adjutant General will appoint five public members, with at least three persons with knowledge or experience in one of the following areas: demobilization and post deployment; post traumatic stress disorder, family readiness groups or family assistance centers; employer support groups; veterans service officers; issues relevant to women in the military and veteran homeless shelters.
It will be the duty of the task force to identify and review the issues and concerns facing servicemembers returning from overseas deployments, and recommend the measures the State should take to address and remedy the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate.
The task force will issue a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation that it deems appropriate, no later than six months after the task force organizes.
