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Bill

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Bill

A 3157

Requires DMVA create Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of certain veterans.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Reginald Atkins and 5 co-sponsors

New Jersey requires its military affairs department to establish a bereavement counseling program for veteran family members and volunteer caregivers to address grief and mental health support gaps.

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
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Bill Summary · A 3157

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 3157 mandates that New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) establish a formal Bereavement Counseling Program to provide mental health support services to family members and volunteer caregivers of veterans. The program would address grief and loss experienced by those in a veteran's support network, particularly following a veteran's death.

Why is this important

Veteran suicide rates and mental health crises significantly impact not only veterans themselves but also their families and caregivers, who often experience secondary trauma, grief, and caregiver burnout. Creating a dedicated counseling program recognizes that bereavement support is a gap in current veteran services and may help prevent complicated grief, depression, and additional tragedies within veteran households.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding and implementation costs: The bill requires program creation but does not specify budget allocation, raising questions about how DMVA will fund ongoing counseling services without legislative appropriation
  • Scope ambiguity: "Certain veterans" is undefined—unclear whether this applies to all veterans, service-connected disabled veterans, or only those with specific conditions
  • Service delivery model: The bill doesn't specify whether counseling will be in-house, contracted, or hybrid, affecting quality, access, and wait times for families in crisis
  • Eligibility of "volunteer caregivers": Defining who qualifies as a volunteer caregiver (vs. family members) could create administrative complexity and potential disputes over access

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

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