The proposed bill establishes the "New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs" as a principal department within the Executive Branch, dedicated to serving veterans and their families. It outlines the responsibilities of the Commissioner, who must be an honorably discharged veteran, and details the department's powers, including administering veterans' services, overseeing state veterans' memorial homes and cemeteries, and coordinating assistance programs. The bill also introduces provisions for drug testing of direct care staff at veterans' homes, facilitates the transfer of veterans' remains from paupers' cemeteries to the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, and emphasizes comprehensive support for veterans through various programs and resources.

Additionally, the bill mandates the transfer of existing veterans-related programs from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to the newly created Department of Veterans Affairs, while ensuring that non-veterans programs remain under the Department of Military Affairs. It includes provisions for a range of new initiatives, such as a tuition assistance program for Vietnam veterans, a Gold Star Family Counseling Program, and the establishment of a Commission on Women Veterans. The bill aims to enhance the structure and accountability of services provided to veterans, ensuring their specific needs are met effectively and efficiently.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 38A:3-1.1, 38A:3-1, 38A:3-1.2, 38A:3-2, 38A:3-6.19, 38A:3-16, 38A:13-9, 38:17-2.1, 52:14-15.107