TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Jim Beach and Donald Norcross to allow the state Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs to raise outside funds specifically for the purchase of a community outreach vehicle was signed into law Wednesday by Governor Christie.
“Not all veterans are able to simply walk into their county office, the nearest VA hospital or make the drive to Trenton to receive the services they need,” said Beach (D-Camden), chairman of the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “In these cases, we need to be able to go directly to them. This outreach vehicle can be an essential tool to ensuring all our veterans get access to the care and services they deserve.”
Under the law (A-1943/S-1629), the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will be authorized to create a specific, non-lapsing fund for donations and grants towards the purchase and maintenance of a handicap-accessible service vehicle that would provide outreach services to disabled veterans.
Outreach vehicles are traveling offices and mini-service facilities capable of providing outreach services to disabled veterans, including health screenings.
“With this law, the Department will be able to go out into the community and raise private funds so they can get the vehicle they need to reach every veteran without sacrificing funding from other worthy programs,” said Norcross (D-Camden). “This is especially important in our current economic climate.