No. 55
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VICTORIA A. FLYNN
District 13 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Bergen, Assemblywomen Swift, Matsikoudis, Assemblymen Guardian, Simonsen, Sauickie, Clifton, McClellan, Auth, McGuckin, Rumpf, Scharfenberger, DePhillips, Webber, DiMaio, Barranco, Assemblywoman Dunn, Assemblyman Peterson, Assemblywoman N.Munoz, Assemblymen Torrissi, S.Kean, DeAngelo, Karabinchak, Verrelli, Calabrese and Barlas
SYNOPSIS
Designates March 16 as Paws Healing Heroes Day in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Joint Resolution designating March 16 as Paws Healing Heroes Day in New Jersey.
Whereas, New Jersey has a current veteran population of over 300,000 spanning World War II through to present day conflicts; and
Whereas, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 29 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and
Whereas, Scientific studies also estimate that upwards of 28 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience traumatic brain injury (TBI); and
Whereas, A growing body of scientific research has shown that service dogs can also reduce the severity and occurrence of symptoms of PTSD, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation; and
Whereas, Among other assistance animals, service dogs have specifically been long used to support persons with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities, including persons with TBI; and
Whereas, Service dogs have also been trained to specifically support veterans with military sexual trauma and seizure disorder; and
Whereas, In recognition of the role that service dogs have in assisting Americas veterans, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act was enacted by Congress in 2021 in an effort to expand the availability of service dogs; and
Whereas, Nevertheless, the training of dogs, including rescue dogs, to become service dogs, and more specifically service dogs that meet the needs of veterans, falls primarily upon community non-profit organizations that depend on charitable donations; and
Whereas, Paws Healing Heroes, of Glassboro, is one such organization in New Jersey dedicated to training service dogs for pairing with veterans; and
Whereas, The average cost to rescue, train, and present a service dog to a veteran can be $3,000 to $5,000, which is often not covered by insurance or other veterans benefits; and
Whereas, New Jersey highlights the important role that assistance animals play in the lives of persons with disabilities through Assistance Animal Recognition Day on Wednesday of the second week of August; and
Whereas, The general public should also be made aware of the unique and important role of service dogs in assisting veterans; now, therefore,
Be It
Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
1. March 16 of each year is designated Paws Healing Heroes Day in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the special role of service dogs in assisting Americas veterans with such conditions as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and seizure disorder.
2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the day and calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates March 16 as Paws Healing Heroes Day in New Jersey.
Service dogs play an important role in assisting veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma, and seizure disorder. It is estimated that 29 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience PTSD, and 28 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience TBI. New Jersey has a current veteran population of over 300,000.
However, despite federal law to expand the availability of service dogs to veterans, the training and placement of service dogs falls primarily upon community non-profit organizations that depend on charitable donations, such as Paws Healing Heroes of Glassboro. The average cost to rescue, train, and present a service dog to a veteran can be $3,000 to $5,000, which is not covered by insurance or other veterans benefits.
Designating Paws Healing Heroes Day will promote greater awareness of the unique role of service dogs in assisting veterans.