ASSEMBLY MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5851

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 14, 2021

      The Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5851.

     Under current law, a family member or other person may be appointed as the guardian of a veteran residing in a Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (DMVA) memorial home.

     This bill would allow the veteran’s guardian to remove the veteran from the veterans’ memorial home under certain emergency circumstances. As amended, whenever a public health emergency is declared by the Governor under emergency powers, each veteran’s guardian, or each person otherwise having the veteran’s power of attorney, would be allowed to remove the veteran from the veterans’ memorial home pursuant to procedures established under DMVA rules and regulations. The department would be required to allow for an initial extension of up to 30 days and one additional extension of up to 30 days. The resident veteran would be required to continue to pay the care and maintenance fee while on temporary furlough to hold a bed. Regular operating procedures would resume at the conclusion of the public health emergency.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to remove references to a state of emergency.  The provisions of the bill will only apply during a public health emergency.