Bill Text: NJ S3583 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expands eligibility for veterans' civil service preference; creates additional preference benefits.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-02-19 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [S3583 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S3583-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
.Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Expands eligibility for veterans' civil service preference; creates additional preference benefits.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning veterans' civil service preference and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Any individual who does not meet the definition of disabled veteran pursuant to subsection a. of N.J.S.11A:5-1, but does meet the definition of disabled veteran in federal law by 5 U.S.C. s.2108 as may be amended and supplemented and receives a passing score on an open competitive examination shall be entitled to 10 additional points above the individual's earned score.
b. Any individual who does not meet the definition of veteran pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.11A:5-1 but does meet the definition of veteran in federal law by 5 U.S.C. s.2108 as may be amended and supplemented and receives a passing score on an open competitive examination shall be entitled to five additional points above the individual's earned score.
2. This act shall take effect on July 1 next following enactment, and shall apply to persons taking examinations for appointments after that date.
STATEMENT
This bill would expand eligibility for veterans' hiring preference in the civil service so that individuals who are eligible for veterans' preference in the federal civil service, but are not eligible for preference in the State civil service, would receive additional points above the individual's earned score on State civil service examinations.
To receive the additional points, an individual must meet the eligibility requirements established under section 2108 of Title 5, United States Code, as may be amended and supplemented.
This new benefit to disabled veterans who did not serve in a time of war would apply only if an amendment to the State Constitution is approved by the voters to permit such disabled veterans to receive the benefit.
