Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to fund burial of indigent veterans.

A4057

ASSEMBLY, No. 4057

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on
gross income tax returns to fund burial of indigent veterans.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning funding for the burial of indigent veterans,
supplementing chapter 9 of Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� a.� There is established
in the Department of the Treasury a special fund to be known as the
"Indigent Veterans� Burial Services Fund."�

���� b.��� Each taxpayer shall have
the opportunity to indicate on the taxpayer�s New Jersey gross income tax
return that a portion of the taxpayer�s tax refund or an enclosed contribution
shall be deposited in the "Indigent Veterans� Burial Services Fund."

���� c.���� Any costs incurred by
the Division of Taxation for collection or administration attributable to this
section may be deducted from receipts collected pursuant to this section, as
determined by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department
of the Treasury.� The State Treasurer shall deposit net contributions collected
pursuant to this section into the "Indigent Veterans� Burial Services
Fund."

���� d.��� The Legislature shall
appropriate all moneys deposited in the "Indigent Veterans� Burial
Services Fund" to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to
provide additional funds for expenses in connection to any interment provided
for by R.S.38:17-4.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1
next following enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the
"Indigent Veterans� Burial Services Fund" and provides for a
designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to
make voluntary contributions to the fund.� The bill requires the Legislature to
annually appropriate all monies deposited into the fund for the Department of
Military and Veterans Affairs for expenses incurred in connection to the burial
or cremation of indigent veterans.

���� Under current law, if a
veteran dies without leaving means sufficient to defray funeral expenses, the
veteran�s county of residence is responsible for burial, up to a cost of $250,
and subject to appropriation, the State provides additional funding for burial
expenses exceeding $250, up to $1,250.� This bill provides an additional avenue
for funding the burial or cremation of indigent veterans, including homeless
veterans and veterans whose remains have been abandoned.