ASSEMBLY MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2447

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 10, 2019

      The Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2447.

     This bill, designated as the Securing Electronic Records for Veterans Ease (“SERVE”) Act, would require landlords and their agents to count any federal military or veteran housing allowance as income when determining whether a prospective tenant who is a military service member or veteran meets any applicable minimum income qualifications to rent housing from the landlord.  The SERVE Act bill would help military service members and veterans secure rental housing.  In particular, this bill would be of benefit to full-time students who often have limited or no income.

     In order to avail themselves of the provisions of this bill, a military service member or veteran would have to furnish documentation issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to the landlord that demonstrates they are receiving a federal military or veteran housing allowance.

      Senate Bill No. 2447 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 3841 of 2018-2019.