Establishes Veterans Bill of Rights.

A5000

ASSEMBLY, No. 5000

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� BRIAN E. RUMPF

District 9 (Ocean)

Assemblyman� GERRY SCHARFENBERGER

District 13 (Monmouth)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes Veterans Bill of Rights.��

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing a Veterans Bill of Rights and
supplementing Title 38 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.� This act shall be known and may be cited as the
�Veterans Bill of Rights Act.�

���� 2.� a.� (1)� The Commissioner
of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall provide to each veteran residing in
this State a physical copy and an electronic copy of the Veterans Bill of
Rights described in subsection c. of this section.�

���� (2)� The commissioner shall
publish and maintain on the department�s Internet website an electronic copy of
the Veterans Bill of Rights.�

���� (3)� The commissioner shall
maintain a physical copy of the most recent version of the Veterans Bill of
Rights in each facility of the department.�

���� b.� Nothing in this section
shall be construed to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against this State, department, or
any officer or employee thereof.�

���� c.� The Veterans Bill of
Rights shall inform a veteran of the rights and benefits to which the veteran
may be entitled under the laws of this State.� Such rights and benefits shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:�

���� (1)� Veterans have the right
to fair treatment.� Veterans shall be treated equally and with respect,
regardless of rank, position, or any protected class, in every interaction with
the Department of Veterans Affairs and its affiliated service providers.�

���� (2)� Veterans have the right
to be informed of all eligible programs and benefits upon discharge from a
branch of the active or reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United
States or the National Guard of any state.� Upon discharge, the department
shall provide each veteran with a comprehensive handbook detailing all eligible
benefits and programs.� This information shall be accessible in print and
online, updated annually, and provide information, including, but not limited
to, healthcare, education, and housing benefits.�

���� (3)� Veterans shall have the
right to privacy:

���� (a)� veterans� personal
information and records shall be strictly protected;

���� (b)� the department shall
adhere to the highest standards of data privacy and clearly inform veterans
about how their data is used, shared, and protected; and

���� (c)� veterans shall have
assurance that all their interactions and records with the department are
handled confidentially and securely pursuant to State and federal law.�

���� (4)� Veterans have the right
of access to quality care:�

���� (a)� veterans shall have
access to quality care through the department�s veterans memorial homes and
community providers; and

���� (b)� veterans shall have
access to physical and mental health services provided through the department
and its community providers, tailored to the veterans� unique needs, ensuring
they receive the best possible care regardless of location or circumstance.

���� (5)� Veterans have the right
to mental health and family support services:

���� (a)� in recognition of the
unique psychological impacts of military service, veterans shall have access,
when available, to tailored mental health resources, including therapy,
counseling, and group support, both in-person and via telehealth; and

���� (b)� support services for
veterans� families shall be available to foster stability and wellness within
the family unit, especially for those experiencing post-military service
challenges.

���� (6)� Veterans have the right
to employment and housing assistance:�

���� (a)� veterans transitioning to
civilian life shall have access to employment services, including job training,
career counseling, and resume workshops; and

���� (b)� the department shall also
provide resources for housing stability, such as assistance in securing
affordable housing and support for homelessness prevention for veterans in
need.�

���� (7)� Veterans have the right
to accessibility in services and facilities:�

���� (a)� department services shall
be accessible to veterans without physical, geographical, or logistical
barriers, with reasonable accommodations provided when available; and

���� (b)� the department, through
its community providers, when practicable, shall provide telehealth options to
serve veterans in remote or underserved areas, ensuring equitable access to
services.

���� (8)� Veterans have the right
to involvement in decisions affecting their care plans, treatment options, and
benefits.� The department shall involve veterans in discussions about their
treatments and benefits eligibility, ensuring that the veteran�s preferences
and needs are considered and respected in every decision.�

���� (9)� Veterans have the right
to transparency in benefits adjudication.� Veterans shall be provided with
assistance with the process for adjudicating claims, including receiving clear
information on application requirements and necessary documentation.�

���� (10)� Veterans have the right
to consistent and proactive communication.� The department shall communicate
updates or changes to veteran benefits and eligibility by prominently posting
on the department�s Internet website.� The department shall also post in a
timely manner information about new or modified services available to
veterans.�

���� d.� The department shall
maintain a toll-free hotline and a publicly accessible department Internet
website through which a veteran may report a complaint regarding compliance
with the provisions of this section by the department.� The department shall respond
to a veteran�s complaint not later than 30 days after the department receives
the complaint.�

���� e.� Not later than once each
year, the Commissioner shall submit to the Senate Military and Veterans�
Affairs Committee and the Assembly Military and Veterans� Affairs Committee, or
their successor committees, a report regarding compliance by the department
with the provisions of this section.� Each report shall include, but not be
limited to, the following elements with regards to the preceding year:

���� (1)� The total number of
complaints received pursuant to subsections c. and d. of this section,
organized by:

���� (a)� category of issue; and

���� (b)� community provider or
facility, division, or department within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

���� (2)� The median response times
for complaints.

���� (3)� The percentage of
complaints resolved within 30 days.

���� (4)� The number of corrective
actions taken or policy changes made as a result of complaints or identified
noncompliance.

���� (5)� The number of veterans
provided information or referrals for community care.

���� (6)� Recommendations, if any,
of the commissioner for legislative or administrative action to further the
purposes of this section.�

���� 3.� This act shall take effect
on the first day of the sixth month next following enactment, except that the
Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs may take any anticipatory
administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation
of this act.�

STATEMENT

���� This bill creates the �Veterans
Bill of Rights Act.�

���� Under the bill, the
Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide to each veteran
residing in this State a physical copy and electronic copy of the Veterans Bill
of Rights, publish and maintain on the department�s Internet website an
electronic copy of the Veterans Bill of Rights, and maintain a physical copy of
the most recent version of the Veterans Bill of Rights in each facility of the
department.�

���� The Veterans Bill of Rights will
inform a veteran of the rights and benefits to which the veteran may be
entitled under the laws of this State.� Such rights and benefits will include,
but not be limited to, the right to:� fair treatment; be informed of all
eligible programs and benefits available; privacy; access to quality care; mental
health and family support services; employment and housing assistance; accessibility
in services and facilities; involvement in decisions affecting their care
plans, treatment options, and benefits; transparency in benefits adjudication;
and consistent and proactive communication.

���� The bill also provides that the
department will maintain a toll-free hotline and a publicly-accessible
department Internet website through which a veteran may report a complaint
regarding compliance by the department with the provisions of the bill.� The bill
specifies that the department is to respond to a veteran�s complaint no later
than 30 days after the department receives the complaint.�

���� Also under the bill, not later
than once each year, the commissioner will submit to the Senate Military and
Veterans� Affairs Committee and the Assembly Military and Veterans� Affairs
Committee, or their successor committees, a report regarding compliance by the
department with the provisions of the bill.� Each report will include, but not
be limited to, the following elements with regards to the preceding year:

���� the total number of complaints
received;

���� the median response times for
complaints;

���� the percentage of complaints
resolved within 30 days;

���� the number of corrective
actions taken or policy changes made as a result of complaints or identified
noncompliance;

���� the number of veterans
provided information or referrals for community care; and

���� recommendations, if any, of
the commissioner for legislative or administrative action to further the
purposes of the bill.�