SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2244

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  AUGUST 20, 2020

      The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2244.

      This bill revises the provisions of State law concerning the claiming and proper disposal of the cremains of veterans and their eligible spouses or eligible dependents.  The bill permits a funeral director to grant a qualified veterans' organization the right to receive the cremains of the eligible spouse or eligible dependent of a veteran, which have not been claimed by a relative or friend of the deceased within one year after cremation.  Currently, only the veteran’s cremains may be received by a qualified veteran’ organization.

      The bill also provides that cremains may be interred at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, a State-operated veterans’ memorial military cemetery, or a national veterans’ memorial military cemetery, or a local veterans’ memorial cemetery, if the individual is eligible for interment at those facilities.  Currently, cremains can only be interred at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans' Memorial Cemetery.

      The bill directs the Division of Veterans' Services in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to establish a program to oversee the transfer of the remains of eligible spouses or eligible dependents of veterans, from paupers' or potters' cemeteries to the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at the request of the veterans' next-of-kin, friends or fellow veterans.  Currently, only the veteran’s cremains may be transferred, and only to the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans' Memorial Cemetery.