SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2525

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 14, 2018

      The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2525.

      This bill directs the Adjutant General in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, subject to the availability of funds, to enter into agreements with public or private entities to fund a portion of the legal services such entities provide to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness related to housing, family law, income support, and criminal defense.

      Under the bill, the Adjutant General will ensure that, to the extent practicable, agreements established under this section are made with entities located in the northern, central and southern regions of the State. The legal services will include the following:

      (1) Legal services related to housing, including eviction defense, representation in landlord-tenant cases, and representation in foreclosure cases.

      (2) Legal services related to family law, including assistance in court proceedings for child support, divorce, estate planning and family reconciliation.

      (3) Legal services related to income support including assistance in obtaining public benefits.

      (4) Legal services related to criminal defense, including defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness, such as outstanding warrants, fines and driver’s license revocation, to reduce recidivism and facilitate the overcoming of reentry obstacles in employment or housing.

      (5) Such other legal services as the Adjutant General deems appropriate.

      The bill amends the "New Jersey Homeless Veterans Grant Program." This program awards grants, on a competitive basis, to organizations that assist homeless veterans in this State from funds appropriated to the department from the "Homeless Veterans Grant Fund".  Under the bill, in addition to the funding appropriated through the New Jersey Homeless Veterans Grant Program, the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will enter into agreements with public or private entities to fund a portion of the legal services specified in this bill, that are provided by such entities to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.

      Under the bill, the Adjutant General may require entities that enter into agreements to submit periodic reports on legal services provided to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.

      The bill is modeled on federal legislation currently pending in Congress.