The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) conveyed its support for two bills designed to assist veterans by easing the process for accessing community-based services as well as the process for renewing parking privileges for disabled veterans.
S875 (Singer)/A2256 (Murphy) requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to accept permanent change of station orders for the purposes of satisfying the residency requirement for the provision of home and community-based services.
The bill allows parents or guardians who are in the United States military and who are trying to access services for another to utilize the change of station order to meet the residency requirement for these services that are reimbursed by the Medicaid program.
“This bill is important to ensure that servicemembers stationed in New Jersey by virtue of their assignment in the military are given access to certain accommodations that are afforded to New Jerseyans despite their residency in another state,” the NJSBA said in its statement to the Senate committee. The NJSBA’s Military Law and Veterans Affairs Section urged support of the bill, saying that service members should not be forced to give up residency in another state when the government is requiring them to live in New Jersey “to protect our nation.”
Meanwhile, S660 (Oroho)/A2438 (Wirths) passed through the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The bill establishes that those who are “100 percent Disabled Veterans” – a federal designation – are not required to submit to the Motor Vehicle Commission certain documentation to renew their parking privileges. The bill allows these veterans to maintain this benefit without requiring them to go into MVC offices, which has become increasingly difficult with the COVID restrictions in place.
Both bills remain pending a full Senate vote. Neither has yet been posted in the Assembly.
Legislation Basics CLE: How a bill becomes a law
The NJSBA’s Criminal Law Section and Legislative Committee invite you to a lunch-and-learn Continuing Legal Education webinar – “The Legislation Basics: How to Read, Write and Pass Legislation.” The program takes place on March 22 from 12 to 1 p.m. The panel features Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee; Kevin Logan, Counsel to the Assembly Republican Office; Sheree Henderson, Lead Counsel of the Office of Legislative Services; and Lisa Chapland, Senior Managing Director of Legislative Affairs at the NJSBA.
The 1.2-credit program is $15 for members or free if you do not want the CLEs. To register, go to NJSBA.com.