S288

An Act establishing a Veterans’ Oral History Foundation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is created a foundation in the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs to be known as the "Veterans’ Oral History Foundation," hereinafter referred to as "the foundation."

2. The Veterans’ Oral History Foundation shall consist of nine members as a board of directors as follows: the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, or his designee, shall serve ex officio; six members from recognized veterans groups in this State, to be appointed by the Adjutant General; and two representatives from the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey, to be appointed by the Adjutant General.

Any vacancy in the membership of the foundation shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments are made.

The members of the foundation shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purpose.

3. The foundation shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and the members shall select from among themselves a chairperson and a vice chairperson. The members shall select a secretary, who need not be a member of the foundation.

The foundation shall meet and hold hearings at such places as it shall designate. The foundation shall meet at the call of the chairperson. A meeting of the foundation may also be called upon the request of five of the foundation members and five members of the foundation shall constitute a quorum at any meeting thereof.

An initial report to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly shall be made within six months of the organization of the foundation.

4. The foundation shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of such employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The foundation shall be entitled to call upon any department, agency or office of the State of New Jersey for such documents, materials and information as it may deem necessary.

5. The foundation shall be devoted to the sponsoring of activities and the raising of funds for the support and promotion of a veterans’ oral history program. The foundation shall accept donations or grants of money, property or personal services from any source. The foundation may incorporate, organize and operate in such manner as to be eligible under applicable federal law for tax-exempt status and for the receipt of tax-deductible contributions.

All funds received by the foundation, other than those necessary to pay the expenses of the foundation, shall be used exclusively for the support and promotion of a veterans’ oral history program.

6. The foundation shall prepare and submit a final report detailing its findings, activities and conclusions to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly no later than three years after the foundation organizes. Upon the expiration of this act, P.L. , c. (pending before the legislature as this bill), any unexpended funds accepted by the foundation shall be transferred to the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs for use for appropriate veterans’ programs.

7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the 30th day following the submission of the foundation's final report as prescribed in section 6 of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill, establishes a Veterans’ Oral History Foundation. The foundation will be devoted to the sponsoring of activities and the raising of funds for the support and promotion of a veterans’ oral history program. The foundation may incorporate, organize and operate in such manner as to be eligible under applicable federal law for tax-exempt status and for the receipt of tax-deductible contributions. All funds received by the foundation, other than those necessary to pay the expenses of the foundation, will be used exclusively for the support and promotion of a veterans’ oral history program.

The foundation will be established in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and will consist of nine members, as a board of directors, as follows: the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, or his designee, six members from recognized veterans groups in this State, to be appointed by the Adjutant General; and two representatives from the New Jersey Militia Museum, to be appointed by the Adjutant General.