Bill Text: NJ S1656 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Jersey Senate Bill 1656 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Authorizes veterans property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans who did not serve in theater of war.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-16 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S1656 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2012-S1656-Introduced.html

SENATE, No. 1656

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

215th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Sponsored by:

Senator JEFF VAN DREW

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

SYNOPSIS

Authorizes veterans property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans who did not serve in theater of war.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

An Act concerning eligibility to receive the veteran's property tax exemption and amending P.L.1971, c.398.

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

1. Section 2 of P.L.1971, c.398 (C.54:4-3.33a) is amended to read as follows:

2. a. [For] Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, for the purposes of [this act and the act hereby amended and supplemented] P.L.1948, c.259, as amended and supplemented by P.L.1971, c.398, "active service in time of war" means the periods of time set forth in subsection (a) of section [1(a)] 1 of [chapter 171 of the laws of 1963] P.L.1963, c.171 (C.54:4-8.10)[, and chapter 165 of the laws of 1965], except that "active service in time of war" for World War II means active service at some time during December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946.

b. For the purpose of eligibility for the property tax exemption authorized in section 1 of P.L.1948, c.259 (C.54:4-3.30), there shall be no minimum length of continuous or aggregate service required in any foreign country, on board any ship or naval vessel, or in any foreign airspace, and there also shall be no requirement that the service-connected disability suffered by a veteran shall have occurred during any such contiguous or aggregate service, notwithstanding any requirement thereof contained in the definition of "active service in time of war" in subsection (a) of section 1 of P.L.1963, c.171 (C.54:4-8.10).

(cf: P.L.1971, c.398, s.2)

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would authorize any veteran of military service in any branch of the armed forces of the United States who became 100% disabled as the result of that military service to receive the 100% property tax exemption, without a requirement that the service-connected disability suffered by a veteran shall have occurred under any such service, and notwithstanding that the 100% disabled veteran did not serve for any period of time in any foreign country, on board any ship or naval vessel, or in any foreign airspace.

Under current law, service in a foreign country, on board a ship or naval vessel, or in foreign airspace is required with respect to
service in the conflicts that did not reach the status of "war," thereby rendering property tax exemption-ineligible veterans who became 100% disabled as the result of their service, but who did not serve in the "theater of war." This bill would allow veterans disabled under those circumstances to receive the property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans.