Legislation sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, and co-sponsored by Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblyman Daniel M. Van Pelt to make various changes to membership requirements of the Veterans’ Services Council was approved today by the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The changes are based on recommendations offered by members of the Council.
“The Veterans’ Services Council serves as a vital forum for veterans’ issues to be comprehensively addressed,” said Senator Connors, a member of the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “To ensure its ability to operate effectively, we are proposing changes to current law based on recommendations offered by Council Members, themselves, which call for modifying key membership requirements. The actions by the Committee today bring us one step closer to fulfilling the Council’s request.”
The legislation, among other things, would increase the Council’s membership from nine to twelve members as well as change the terms of membership from four to three years and limit membership on the Council to two terms. Additionally, the bill would require members to nominate a chairman for approval by the Governor, whereas currently the Governor designates the chairman. Lastly, the term “war veteran” within the Council’s statutory duties would be changed to “veteran” in order to encompass the conflicts and emergencies that the Armed Forces are currently engaged in.
Senator Connors and Senator John Girgenti, Chairman of the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, are the prime sponsors of S-1620. Assemblyman Rumpf and Assemblyman Van Pelt have joined as co-sponsors on A-1923, which is scheduled to be voted upon by the full General Assembly on Monday, May 19.
“Obviously, there is no one better suited to make these recommendations than Council members who have an active interest in veterans’ affairs and a strong understanding of the pressing needs of those who’ve served in our Armed Forces,” said Assemblyman Rumpf. “At no cost to the state, this measure would amend existing law and institute the procedural changes sought by the Council in carrying out its primary function to improve the quality of life for veterans living in our state.”
Assemblyman Van Pelt, a member of the Assembly Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee which took public testimony on A-1923, went on to say, “This legislation enjoys bi-partisan support and has been favorably released by the veterans’ affairs committees of both Houses. Our state has an obligation to ensure that the Council has a strong voice in shaping state policies that affect state veteran affairs. Enactment of this proposal is especially important to our Delegation which has the privilege of representing a great number of veterans who live in our Legislative District.”
Connors, Rumpf and Van Pelt are primary sponsors of other veterans’ initiatives including:
(S-941/A-312): Prohibits permanent change of child custody during period of active military duty; provides that absence due to active military duty, by itself, is not sufficient to justify modification of a child custody or visitation order.
(S-865/A-1945): Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
(S-947/A-2481): Extends veteran’s property tax exemption to tenant shareholders in cooperatives and mutual housing corporations.
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