The bill establishes a New Jersey Veteran Gravesite Maintenance Grant Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) aimed at providing financial support to qualified veterans organizations for the maintenance of veteran gravesites. It defines a "qualified veterans' organization" as a nonprofit entity that is either a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. The DVA is tasked with developing guidelines and procedures for grant applications, establishing criteria for evaluation, and monitoring compliance among grant recipients.
Additionally, the bill mandates that grant recipients report their use of funds to the DVA, and the department must submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the program's effectiveness. The Commissioner of the DVA is also required to request sufficient funds in the annual budget to support the program's objectives. The implementation of this grant program is contingent upon future appropriations by the Legislature.