SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2821

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 19, 2020

      The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2821.

      As amended, this bill requires the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to develop, in coordination with appropriate departments and agencies, a program to assist veterans in accessing evaluation and treatment for a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis related to military service.  The program may include offering support and guidance, transportation, assistance filing disability compensation claims, assistance updating discharge status, health care and other services or programs available at the local, State and federal level for obtaining and addressing a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis. 

      Under the bill, “veteran” means a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to add traumatic brain injury to the type of injury to be evaluated for treatment.  The original version of the bill included post-traumatic stress disorder and total brain injury.