Bill Text: NJ A2493 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Defines indigent veteran and veteran status for certain veteran interment purposes.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-3)

Status: (Passed) 2023-03-10 - Approved P.L.2023, c.17. [A2493 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2022-A2493-Chaptered.html

CHAPTER 17

 

An Act concerning the interment of indigent veterans and amending R.S.38:17-1, R.S.38:17-3; R.S.38:17-4, and P.L.2013, c.238.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    R.S.38:17-1 is amended to read as follows:

 

Interment of indigent veterans; definitions.

     38:17-1.  The board of chosen freeholders in each of the counties shall designate a proper authority, other than that designated by law for the care of paupers and the custody of criminals, who shall cause to be interred the bodies of all veterans of the United States Armed Forces discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, including the bodies of all honorably discharged members of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and have been declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits, who die indigent.  The expense of such funeral shall not exceed in any case the sum of $1,250 for burial or cremation.

     For the purposes of this section:

     "Indigent" shall mean a person who has an income that is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and

     "Poverty level" shall mean the official poverty level based on family size established and adjusted under Section 673(2) of Subtitle B. of the federal "Community Services Block Grant Act," Pub.L.97-35 (42 U.S.C. s.9902(2)).

 

     2.    Section 2 of P.L.2013, c.238 (C.38:17-2.1) is amended to read as follows:

 

C.38:17-2.1  Identification of indigent deceased person; determination of veteran status; definitions.

     2.    The county medical examiner, or a designee, shall be responsible for the positive identification of an unidentified indigent deceased person.  The supervisor of veterans' interment or county medical examiner, as appropriate, shall contact the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs upon receipt of an unclaimed indigent deceased person to ascertain the veteran status of the person.  The supervisor of veterans' interment or county medical examiner, as appropriate, shall be notified upon determination of the veteran status of the person.  If the person was a veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, the supervisor of veterans' interment or county medical examiner, as appropriate, shall cause burial or cremation to occur within 72 hours of notification of veteran status.

     For the purposes of this section:

     "Indigent" shall mean a person who has an income that is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and

     "Poverty level" shall mean the official poverty level based on family size established and adjusted under Section 673(2) of Subtitle B. of the federal "Community Services Block Grant Act," Pub.L.97-35 (42 U.S.C. s.9902(2)).

 

     3.    R.S.38:17-3 is amended to read as follows:

 

Interment, restrictions; headstone; definitions.

     38:17-3.  Any interment provided for by sections 38:17-1 to 38:17-8 of this title shall not be made in any cemetery or plot used exclusively for the burial of pauper dead, but may be made in a county veterans' cemetery or, if appropriate, the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans' Memorial Cemetery or a National Cemetery.  The graves of any such deceased indigent veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable may be marked by a headstone containing the name of the deceased and, if possible, the organization to which he belonged or in which he served.  Such headstone shall be of such design and materials as shall be approved by the governor, adjutant general and quartermaster general.

     For the purposes of this section:

     "Indigent" shall mean a person who has an income that is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and

     "Poverty level" shall mean the official poverty level based on family size established and adjusted under Section 673(2) of Subtitle B. of the federal "Community Services Block Grant Act," Pub.L.97-35 (42 U.S.C. s.9902(2)).

 

     4.    R.S.38:17-4 is amended to read as follows:

 

Liability for expenses of burial, cremation; exemptions; definitions.

     38:17-4.  The expense of the burial or cremation and headstone shall be borne and paid by the county in which the deceased shall be resident at the time of death, up to a cost of $250.  The State shall provide additional funds for such expenses, if necessary, through an annual appropriation and subject to the availability of funds.  The total cost shall not exceed $1,250 for burial or cremation.

     If in any county there is located a home or other institution for the use, care, shelter and maintenance of such veterans not supported by the county, such county shall not be liable for the burial or cremation expenses and headstones of the deceased, unless the deceased was a bona fide resident of such county at the time of his admission to such home or institution, but the county in which he was resident at the time of his admission to such home or institution shall defray, bear and pay the cost of such burial or cremation and headstones.

     This section shall apply only to deceased indigent veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

     For the purposes of this section:

     "Indigent" shall mean a person who has an income that is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and

     "Poverty level" shall mean the official poverty level based on family size established and adjusted under Section 673(2) of Subtitle B. of the federal "Community Services Block Grant Act," Pub.L.97-35 (42 U.S.C. s.9902(2)).

 

     5.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

     Approved March 10, 2023.

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