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S 4376

Provides family leave in the event of a stillbirth or miscarriage

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie

Creates a cabinet-level New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs to consolidate and oversee all veterans programs and services statewide.

REFERRED TO LABOR
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Bill Summary · S 4376

Summary — S.4376 (P.L.2025, c.139)

Title (documents): "An Act establishing a new Department of Veterans Affairs in the Executive Branch of State government"
Note: the package you provided includes a different short title ("Provides family leave in the event of a stillbirth or miscarriage") in the metadata. The official bill text and committee/fiscal documents supplied relate to creating a standalone Department of Veterans Affairs; this summary follows those documents.

Main purpose

Establish a separate, cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs in New Jersey’s Executive Branch, recodify existing veterans-related law into a new Title 38B, and transfer veterans programs and functions that currently reside in the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (DMAVA) to the new department. Non‑veterans programs remain with a reconstituted Department of Military Affairs.

Key provisions

  • Creates the Department of Veterans Affairs as a principal Executive Branch department and a new statutory Title 38B. Corresponding veterans provisions currently in Title 38A are repealed and recodified.
  • Establishes the office of Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs:
    • Commissioner must be an honorably discharged veteran, appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, serving at the Governor’s pleasure.
    • Commissioner authority includes appointing/removing staff (subject to civil service law), organizing divisions, adopting regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act, maintaining a department headquarters, and accessing relevant state agency records (subject to privacy laws).
  • Requires the Commissioner to appoint at least one deputy commissioner.
  • Transfers all veterans divisions and programs from DMAVA to the new department; programs unrelated to veterans remain with the Department of Military Affairs.
  • Directs the Commissioner to perform specific functions now found in existing law, including:
    • Encourage registration of NJ service members with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
    • Maintain regional Veteran Service Offices to assist veterans and their dependents.
    • Develop a volunteer mentor program and registry for veterans involved with the criminal justice system.
    • Prepare a directory of Veterans Diversion Resource Program entities.
    • Create a comprehensive public webpage for Gold Star family members.
  • Committee amendment: requires the new Commission on Women Veterans to submit its initial report to and periodically advise the Commissioner.

Who is affected

  • Veterans, their families and dependents (service access and coordination of benefits/services).
  • Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (organizational restructuring; veterans functions transferred).
  • State executive branch (new cabinet-level department, staffing, headquarters).
  • Courts/justice-involved veterans (mentor/diversion program linkages).
  • Gold Star families (centralized information resources).

Fiscal impact and administration

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates a minimum annual State expenditure increase of $1 million to cover new positions/salaries, a suitable headquarters, and design/maintenance of new online/print materials. Actual costs depend on staffing and facility choices.
  • The bill does not create new services/programs; it reorganizes and recodifies existing authorities.

Procedural status & timeline

  • Introduced in the Senate: March 24, 2025.
  • Reported by Senate committees with amendments (Military & Veterans’ Affairs; Budget & Appropriations).
  • Passed Senate (32–6) and Assembly (72–0–8); substituted for A5520 (1R).
  • Approved/enacted as P.L.2025, c.139 (recorded 2025-09-11).
  • Primary sponsor: Senator Leroy Comrie.
  • Related/companion bills: A5520 (companion), prior-session bills S6026 and S4403.

Practical effect

The law creates a distinct statewide agency focused exclusively on veterans’ programs and services, intended to improve coordination, visibility, and responsiveness for veterans and their families while leaving non‑veterans military functions with a separate Department of Military Affairs.

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

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