New Jersey-2010-S2991-Introduced

An Act concerning identification cards issued by a county clerk to certain veterans for certain purposes and supplementing Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

1. Sections 1 through 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be known and may be cited as the "County Identification Cards for Veterans Act."

2. As used in this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), "veteran" means a person who has served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard of the United States or a Reserve component thereof or the National Guard of this State as defined in section 1 of P.L.1963, c.109 (C.38A:1-1), and has been honorably discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from such service.

3. A county clerk may establish a veteran identification card program for the sole purpose of identifying the holder as a veteran when such identification is required to receive discounts or other courtesies extended to military veterans.

4. When such a program has been authorized, the county clerk shall issue an identification card to any veteran who is a resident of the county who does not hold an identification card issued by the federal government that identifies the person as a veteran. The veteran identification card shall bear the true name, branch of the armed forces in which the veteran served, and other identifying information as certified by the applicant for such veteran identification card. Every application for a veteran identification card shall be signed and certified by the applicant and shall be supported by such documentary evidence as the county clerk may require.

5. It shall be unlawful for any person:

a. To display or cause or permit to be displayed or have in the person's possession any canceled, fictitious, fraudulently altered, or fraudulently obtained veteran identification card;

b. To lend the veteran identification card to any other person or knowingly permit the use thereof by another;

c. To display or represent any veteran identification card not issued to the person as being the person's card;

d. To permit any unlawful use of a veteran identification card issued to the person;

e. To photograph, photostat, duplicate, or in any way reproduce any veteran identification card or facsimile thereof in such a manner that it could be mistaken for a valid veteran identification card, or to display or have in the person's possession any such photograph, photostat, duplicate, reproduction, or facsimile; or

f. To alter any veteran identification card in any manner.

6. The veteran identification card issued under P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall not be deemed sufficient valid proof of veteran status for official governmental purposes when a statute, regulation, or directive of a governmental entity requires documentation of veteran status.

7. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), is guilty of a disorderly persons offense.

8. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill permits county clerk's to create an identification card for veterans who are residents of that county and do not hold an identification card issued by the federal government that identifies the person as a veteran. The bill defines veteran to mean a person who has served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard of the United States or a Reserve component thereof or the State National Guard and who has been honorably discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.

The cards will not serve as sufficient valid proof for official government business or to secure veterans' benefits. The cards are designed to help veterans to receive discounts or other courtesies extended to military veterans.