Senator Christopher Connors

June 16, 2009   

Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, Senator Christopher J. Connors

Legislation drafted by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblyman Daniel M. Van Pelt would allow for a tax credit to be available for unreimbursed psychiatric treatment provided to a veteran who has been honorably discharged from active military service and is a resident of the state. The 9th District Legislators’ veterans’ initiative would be for a corporation business tax credit or income tax credit.

“During a veterans’ roundtable our Delegation recently held, one of the common subjects brought up was the psychological trauma experienced by military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, ” said Senator Connors, a member of the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “We fully recognize that the VA is providing critical psychiatric services to veterans. Through this legislation, our Delegation is working toward supplementing these services, by creating a tax incentive that would make it more feasible for psychiatrists to provide treatment free of charge to veterans.”

In late April, Connors, Rumpf and Van Pelt recently held a veterans’ roundtable at the Stafford Municipal Complex. Representatives from local VFW, American Legion and Jewish War Veteran Posts were invited. The Delegation’s legislation to create the tax credit was a proposal brought up as part of the roundtable discussion.

“The mental welfare of veterans attempting to cope with the unimaginable stresses and experiences related to their military service is of significant concern, ” remarked Assemblyman Rumpf. “Our Delegation strongly believes that a concerted effort by both the federal and state governments should be made to make psychiatric services more available to veterans through whatever means available. Tax credits could prove an effective means of accomplishing this goal.”

Assemblyman Van Pelt, who serves on the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, commented, “While our Delegation strongly believes this tax incentive would lead to more veterans receiving treatment that they need, sensible precautions are taken in the bill to ensure financial incentives are not abused. First, to qualify for the tax credit, the treatment being provided must be medically necessary and being provided to a veteran free of charge. Second, the total cost for the credited treatment would be capped at $10,000 and the cost of per hour treatment could not exceed $85. In all, this is a practical proposal that will help improve the quality-of-life for our veterans.”

Legislation drafted by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblyman Daniel M. Van Pelt would allow for a tax credit to be available for unreimbursed psychiatric treatment provided to a veteran who has been honorably discharged from active military service and is [...]