Legislators in Trenton wasted little time recently, in crafting three bills on behalf of veterans and citizen/soldiers, still on active duty.
Bill A2438 sponsored by Assemblymen Hal Wirths and Parker Space, released on Sept. 22 from the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee addresses parking privileges for veterans who are 100% disabled. The new bill allows those veterans to renew their special parking privileges with less paperwork and bureaucratic red tape.
“I am happy we can provide a little helping hand to veterans who are 100% disabled due to a service-related condition,” Wirths (R-24) said. “Any little bit the state can do to make life easier for these men and women who served their country, I am behind 100%.”
Ending bureaucratic red tape for veterans 100% disabled
Co-sponsor Space (R-24) added, “Any bill that peels away at the layers of bureaucracy to help our veterans is something I support.”
Under the current law, veterans who are 100% disabled must confirm their Department of Veterans Affairs disability status to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission each time they submit a renewal request. Under the proposed law, disabled veterans will now submit their initial application along with their disability status for parking privileges just once, at the beginning of the process.
Vet Population in New Jersey
Currently, individuals who are 100% disabled due to a service-related condition and were honorably discharged from active duty, are entitled to certain assistance such as healthcare, education and unemployment benefits. In New Jersey, these veterans are also eligible to receive disability identification cards, placards and special license plates.
According to the latest information compiled by the VA, the total number of veterans living within the Garden State since 2019, is 350,538. Out of that number, 60,027 receive some type of disability benefit. However, the number of those veterans receiving 100% disability compensation isn’t publicly reported.
An identical Senate bill (S660) was introduced and sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Steve Oroho (R-24). Both bills will now go to the Speaker for consideration.
National Guard Focus
Another bill sponsored by Assemblyman Space made its way through the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, allowing both service members of the National Guard and military reservists called to active duty during a crisis to continue being age-eligible for civil service employment.
The new bill would provide equal standing with current law retaining parity in eligibility status for those service members wishing to become firefighters though the Civil Service Commission.
“Firefighters with military service bring great value to a fire department and their patriotism shouldn’t be a barrier to employment,” said Space, who has been a volunteer firefighter since 1989. “This bill brings military firefighters in line with service members who want to become police officers. It recognizes their service to this country and helps fire departments with recruiting efforts.”
Firefighter Applicants
The eligibility requirements for a firefighter currently residing within the Garden State decrees all applicants must be between the ages of 18 to 35 years old. The new legislation would permit Guard members and reservists who passed their civil service examination within the prescribed age requirement to retain eligibility if they turn 36 while fulfilling their military obligations.
According to recent data compiled in April of 2022 by New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs, there are approximately 7,760 career firefighters throughout the Garden State—that figure is up slightly from the previous two years when there were approximately 7,390 firefighters in 2020 throughout the state.
Pusf for New VA Center
The last bill rounding out this trilogy is a resolution urging the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a vet center in northwestern New Jersey.
The bill titled ACR22, sponsored by Assemblymen Wirths and Erik Peterson (R-23), would establish a vet center for those veterans and active-duty members residing within that region of the state. The bill is also co-sponsored by fellow Assembly Republicans Space, Aura Dunn (R-25) and U.S. Army veteran Brian Bergen (R-25).
Currently, over 40,000 veterans living in Morris, Sussex, Warren, and Hunterdon counties must travel over 50 miles in order to receive their prescribed health benefits, including those requiring critical mental health services.
Cutting Travel Times
“These centers are a lifeline to our military members and their families in times of need,” Wirths said. “These services should be easily accessible in New Jersey. They shouldn’t have to travel an hour or longer in-state to get the help they need.”
New Jersey opened its first vet center in 1979, treating Vietnam veterans suffering from serious emotional health issues. Today there are five centers located in Bloomfield, Secaucus, Ewing, Lakewood, and Egg Harbor Township, providing much needed mental health and readjustment services to veterans, service members and their families in non-medical settings. The centers are separate from VA hospitals to ensure confidentiality.
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