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A 3274

Establishes Military Suicide Prevention Task Force.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Fantasia and 5 co-sponsors

Establishes a 17-member Military Suicide Prevention Task Force to identify strategies, coordinate state actions, and produce reports aimed at reducing and eliminating military suic

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
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Bill Summary · A 3274

Summary: Bill A-3274 (Session 222) – Establishes Military Suicide Prevention Task Force (New Jersey)

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a Military Suicide Prevention Task Force within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) in partnership with the Department of Human Services.
  • Primary goal: reduce military suicides and develop a plan for the elimination of all military suicides among active-duty service members and veterans.
  • Task force will identify, evaluate, and recommend comprehensive strategies and programs to implement those strategies.

Key Provisions

Task Force Structure

  • Size and composition: 17 members total.
    • Ex officio members (5): 1) Adjutant General, DMVA 2) Commissioner, Department of Human Services 3) Attorney General 4) State Treasurer 5) Commissioner, Department of Transportation
    • Public members appointed by various officials (12 total):
    • Adjutant General: appoints 2 public members (from different parts of the state; at least one woman; one veteran; one disabled veteran)
    • Commissioner of Human Services: appoints 2 public members (one with homeless services experience; one with disabilities experience)
    • President of the Senate: appoints 2 public members (one with veterans’ employment experience; one veteran)
    • Speaker of the General Assembly: appoints 2 public members (one with military-related mental health experience; one disabled veteran)
    • Governor: appoints 4 public members (from different parts of the state; roles include: female veteran or female disabled-veteran; expertise in PTSD/brain injury; expertise in military sexual trauma; issues related to women in the military)
  • Appointment timing: Public members must be appointed no later than 60 days after the act becomes effective.
  • Compensation: Public members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses within available funds.

Terms and Officers

  • Public members’ terms: generally five years; initial appointments include varying term lengths (two to five years) determined by lot to create staggered terms.
  • Organization: task force to elect a chair and vice-chair from among public members; secretary may be appointed (not required to be a member).
  • Meetings: at least every other month; additional meetings possible by majority vote.
  • Quorum/decision-making: majority of authorized members required to conduct official business.
  • Expenses: task force may incur expenses within available funds.

Duties and Authority

  • Identify and review issues facing active-duty service members and veterans.
  • Recommend State actions, including potential legislation.
  • Examine data, research, programs, and initiatives on military suicide, considering physical, social, emotional, and mental impacts of service and deployments.
  • Identify evidence-based best practices for:
    • Increasing awareness of veteran suicide prevention hotlines and crisis resources (NJ and national).
  • Develop strategies to promote lifelong health (physical, social, emotional, mental) for service members and veterans; recommend implementation.
  • Review existing laws, regulations, and public policies governing services for active-duty members and veterans; assess effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Evaluate whether certain services could be more effectively delivered by county/municipal government or by State government.

Institutional Support and Reporting

  • DMVA will assign personnel to support the task force; other state, county, municipal, or school district entities may be asked to provide data, reports, personnel, and assistance.
  • All applicable agencies should cooperate to the extent allowed by law.
  • Reporting: the task force must submit periodic reports (no less than twice yearly) to the Governor and the Legislature, detailing findings and policy/ program recommendations to reduce and eliminate military suicides.

Effective Date

  • This act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Potential Impact

  • Establishes an official, multi-stakeholder body focused specifically on military suicide prevention in New Jersey.
  • Creates a formal mechanism to gather diverse expertise (veterans, mental health professionals, employment, homelessness, gender-specific issues, PTSD/brain injury, military sexual trauma) to address suicide risk comprehensively.
  • Aims to produce policy recommendations and potential legislation to reduce suicides among active-duty personnel and veterans in New Jersey.
  • Enhances coordination across state agencies (DMVA, DHS, AG, Treasury, DOT) and with external partners (counties, municipalities, school districts) for data sharing and program effectiveness.
  • Requires regular reporting to the Governor and Legislature, increasing oversight and accountability.

Quick Reference

  • Bill: A-3274 | NJ Session 222 | Title: Establishes Military Suicide Prevention Task Force
  • Parties Responsible: Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (in conjunction with Department of Human Services)
  • Key Outputs: Comprehensive strategies, periodic reports, potential legislative recommendations
  • Public Appointments: 12 public members with diverse expertise, appointed by specified officials
  • Meetings: At least bi-monthly
  • Effective Date: Immediate upon enactment

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to existing NJ policies on veteran mental health or provide a brief pros/cons analysis based on typical legislative impact considerations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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