S 1903 — Establishes NJ Military Family Relief Fund; provides for designation on State gross income tax return to permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to military family relief fund.

S1903 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe bySenate LegislativeMilitary Counsel.and Veterans' Affairs Committee on June 11, 2026, with amendments.

            1.   1.   a.a.  There is established in the Department of the Treasury a separate, nonlapsing fund to be known as the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund.”  Moneys in the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” shall be held by the State Treasurer and made available for the purposes designated under section 2 of this act, P.L.   , c.   (C.   ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

 There      isb.   establishedEach intaxpayer theshall Departmenthave of the Treasuryopportunity a separate, nonlapsing fund to beindicate knownon as the “Newtaxpayer's JerseyNew Military Family Relief Fund.”  Moneys in the “New Jersey Militarygross Familyincome Relieftax Fund”return shallthat bea heldportion byof the Statetaxpayer's Treasurertax andrefund madeor availablean forenclosed thecontribution purposesshall designatedbe underdeposited sectionin 2 of this act, P.L.   , c.   (C.   ) (pending before the Legislatureseparate, asnonlapsing thisfund. bill).

          b.   c.   EachAny taxpayercosts shallincurred haveby the opportunityDivision of Taxation for collection or administration attributable to indicatethis onact themay taxpayer'sbe Newdeducted Jerseyfrom grossreceipts incomecollected taxpursuant returnto thatthis aact, portionas determined by the Director of the taxpayer'sDivision taxof refundBudget orand anAccounting.  enclosedThe contributionState Treasurer shall bedeposit net contributions collected pursuant to this act into the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund.”       d.   The Legislature shall annually appropriate all funds deposited in the separate,“New nonlapsingJersey fund.Military Family Relief Fund” established pursuant to this section to the Department of Military 1[and] Affairs and the Department of1 Veterans Affairs, 1as appropriate,1 which shall be credited with:

          c.    (1)  Anymoneys costsreceived incurred by the DivisionState ofas Taxationgifts, forgrants, collection or administrationdonations attributablefor tothe thispurpose actof maymilitary befamily deductedrelief, fromincluding, receiptsat collected pursuant to this act, as determined by the Directordiscretion of the DivisionAdjutant ofGeneral, Budgetgrants andaccepted Accounting. by Thethe StateDepartment Treasurerof shallMilitary deposit1[and netVeterans]1 contributionsAffairs collected pursuant to thissection act12 intoof theP.L.1987, “Newc.444 Jersey(C.38A:3-6.2) Military1and, Familyat Reliefthe Fund.”discretion     of d.    The Legislature shall annually appropriate all funds deposited in the “Newcommissioner, Jerseygrants Militaryaccepted Familyby Relief Fund” established pursuant to this section to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs,Affairs whichpursuant shallto beN.J.S. credited with:

    38A:21-10, (1)   moneys received by the State as gifts,appropriate1; grants, or donations for the purpose of military family relief, including, at the discretion of the Adjutant General, grants accepted by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1987, c.444 (C.38A:3-6.2);

          (2)  (2)  moneys that the Legislature may appropriate;

and           (3)  (3)  other moneys made available including, but not limited to, funds provided by the federal government.

            2.   2.   a.a.  The purpose of the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” shall be to provide grants up to $2,500 to defray the costs of food, housing, medical services, and other essential expenses for (1) members of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, and their families, (2) members of the New Jersey National Guard and their families, (3) veterans and their families, or (4) the surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces, or a reserve component thereof, a member of the national guard, or a veteran.

 The      purposeFor of the “Newpurposes Jerseyof Militarythis Familysubsection, Relief      Fund”“veteran” shallmeans bean toindividual providewho grantsreceived upan tohonorable $2,500discharge toor defraya thegeneral costsdischarge ofunder food,honorable housing,conditions medicalfrom services,active andservice otherin essentialany expensesbranch for (1) members of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, andor their families, (2) members of the New Jersey National GuardGuard. and their families, (3) veterans and their families, or (4) the surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces, or a reserve component thereof, a member of the national guard, or a veteran.

          Forb.   The Adjutant General of the purposesDepartment of thisMilitary subsection,1[and]     Affairs “veteran”and meansthe anCommissioner individualof whothe receivedDepartment anof1 honorableVeterans dischargeAffairs orshall a1jointly1 generaldetermine dischargethe underapplication honorableprocess, conditionsand fromshall activeestablish servicethe ineligibility anydocumentation branchrequired offor thea Unitedperson Statesto Armedbe Forces,considered ora qualified applicant pursuant to this section.  A qualified applicant seeking a Reservegrant componentshall thereof,submit oran theapplication Newin Jerseysuch Nationalform Guard.as shall be required by the 1[department] departments1.

          b.   To Thebe Adjutantqualified, Generalthe ofapplicant theshall Departmentbe ofa MilitaryNew andJersey Veteransresident Affairsand shall determinehave resided in the applicationState process,for anda shallperiod establishof thenot eligibilityless documentationthan required12 forconsecutive amonths personimmediately prior to besubmitting consideredan aapplication.  qualifiedAn applicant pursuantshall provide documentation of financial hardship to thisthe section. 1appropriate1 Adepartment qualifiedin order to receive the grant.  An applicant seekingshall not receive a grant shallfrom submitthe an“New applicationJersey inMilitary suchFamily formRelief asFund” shallmore bethan requiredonce byin theany department.12-month period.

          Toc.   The application shall be qualified,submitted to the applicantDepartment shallof beMilitary a1[and] NewAffairs Jerseyor residentthe Department of1 Veterans Affairs, 1as appropriate,1 and upon approval, the department, if adequate moneys are available, shall haveissue residedthe ingrant from the State“New forJersey aMilitary periodFamily ofRelief notFund.”  lessThe thanAdjutant 12General consecutive1or monthsthe immediatelycommissioner, prioras toappropriate,1 submittingmay deny an application. applicant Andue applicantto shallinsufficient providemoneys documentationavailable ofin financialthe hardshipfund toand shall notify the departmentapplicant inof orderthe todenial.  receiveWhen funding is available, the grant. 1appropriate1 Andepartment shall notify each qualified applicant shallwho notwas receivedenied a grant fromduring the “Newpreceding Jersey24 Militarymonths Familydue Reliefto Fund”a morelack thanof oncesufficient inmoneys anyavailable 12-monthand period.inform that applicant of the availability of funds.

          c.    d.   The applicationAdjutant General 1or the commissioner1 shall be submittedresponsible tofor thedetermining Departmentwhether ofany Militaryperson andseeking Veteransto Affairs,be andconsidered upona approval,qualified theapplicant department,under ifthis adequatesection, moneysfor arethe available,purpose shallof issuereceiving thea grant from the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund.” Fund,” Themeets Adjutantthe Generaleligibility mayrequirements denyand adjudicating an applicantappeal duefrom toany insufficientperson moneysdisputing availablethis indetermination.  theThe funddetermination and shall notify the applicant of the denial. Adjutant WhenGeneral funding1or isthe available,commissioner, theas departmentappropriate,1 shall notifybe eachbinding. qualified applicant who was denied a grant during the preceding 24 months due to a lack of sufficient moneys available and inform that applicant of the availability of funds.

      d.         3.   The Adjutant General shall1and bethe responsiblecommissioner, foras determiningappropriate,1 whethermay anyadopt, personin seekingaccordance towith be considered a qualified applicant under this section, for the purpose“Administrative ofProcedure receivingAct,” aP.L.1968, grantc.410 from(C.52:14B-1 theet “Newseq.), Jerseyrules Militaryand Familyregulations Reliefnecessary Fund,”to meetseffectuate the eligibilitypurposes requirementsof andthis adjudicatingact, anP.L.    appeal, fromc.   any(C.   person) disputing(pending thisbefore determination.  The determination of the AdjutantLegislature Generalas shallthis bebill). binding.

       3.    The Adjutant General may adopt, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, P.L.    , c.   (C.   )(pending before the Legislature as this bill).

    STATEMENT        This bill establishes the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the military family relief fund.

     Under the bill, a separate, nonlapsing fund to be known as the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” is established in the Department of the Treasury.  Moneys in the fund would be held by the State Treasurer and made available for the purposes of the bill.  The purpose of the military family relief fund would be to provide grants up to $2,500 to defray the costs of food, housing, medical services, and other essential expenses for (1) members of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, and their families, (2) members of the New Jersey National Guard and their families, (3) veterans and their families, or (4) the surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces, or a reserve component thereof, a member of the national guard, or a veteran.

     The bill provides that the Legislature would annually appropriate all funds deposited in the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which would be credited with:

     (1)   moneys received by the State as gifts, grants, or donations for the purpose of military family relief, including, at the discretion of the  Adjutant General, grants accepted by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs;

     (2)   moneys that the Legislature may appropriate;

and      (3)   other moneys made available including, but not limited to, funds provided by the federal government.

     Under the bill, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs would determine the application process, and establish the eligibility documentation required for a person to be considered a qualified applicant, and issue the grant from the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund,” if adequate moneys are available, to those qualified applicants.

     To be qualified, the applicant is required to be a New Jersey resident and must have resided in the State for a period of not less than 12 consecutive months immediately prior to submitting an application.  An applicant must also provide documentation of financial hardship to the department in order to receive the grant and is prohibited from receiving a grant from the “New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund” more than once in any 12-month period.

     Under the bill,      “veteran” means an individual who received an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions from active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, or the New Jersey National Guard.