The bill establishes a Women Veterans Coordinator within the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), to be appointed by the Adjutant General. This coordinator, who must be a veteran, will focus on assisting women veterans who have been discharged or released under honorable conditions from the U.S. Armed Forces or its Reserve components, including the New Jersey National Guard. The coordinator's responsibilities include providing support in areas such as employment, education, counseling, housing, and medical services, as well as identifying and coordinating statewide programs to address the needs of women veterans. Additionally, the coordinator will develop informational materials about veterans' benefits and make recommendations to ensure compliance with relevant policies and improve services for women veterans.
The coordinator is also required to hold quarterly meetings with women veterans and provide annual recommendations to the Legislature and Governor regarding existing or proposed programs and legislation aimed at enhancing support for women veterans. The bill mandates the Adjutant General to create rules and regulations to implement these provisions in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.