Trenton, NJ – A bill moving through the New Jersey Legislature would require the state to establish a new veterans memorial home in either Ocean or Monmouth County, expanding long-term care services in two of the state’s most veteran-populated regions.
Assembly Bill 1297, sponsored by Assemblyman Alex Sauickie of District 12, directs the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of the Treasury, to initiate the purchase of real property suitable for a veterans facility. The proposed home would be named the Ronald S. Dancer Veterans Memorial Home.
Under the legislation, the facility must be located within one mile of an acute care hospital and be fully operational within five years of the bill’s effective date. The measure defines an acute care facility as a licensed public general hospital offering services including medical and surgical care, cardiac treatment, psychiatric services, intensive care, rehabilitation, diagnostic imaging, and renal dialysis.
Ocean and Monmouth counties are home to approximately 30,051 and 23,148 veterans, respectively, according to the bill’s statement. Currently, the state operates three veterans homes in Menlo Park, Vineland, and Paramus.
The proposal would require annual appropriations from the General Fund to support the purchase of property and necessary improvements, including construction, renovation, engineering, planning, and environmental analyses.
- Bill requires new veterans home in Ocean or Monmouth County
- Facility must be within one mile of an acute care hospital
- Home named for former Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer
Oversight and reporting requirements outlined
The bill mandates that the Adjutant General and State Treasurer submit progress reports to the Legislature at least once every six months. The facility would also provide transportation to and from the nearby hospital for services deemed necessary by administrators.
In addition to authorizing the new home, the legislation amends several sections of state law to incorporate the proposed facility into existing oversight structures. That includes adding the Ronald S. Dancer Veterans Memorial Home to statutes governing the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and updating provisions related to advisory councils and reporting during public health emergencies.
The measure would expand the state’s network of New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes and create a fifth advisory council specific to the new location.
If enacted, the law would take effect on the first day of the sixth month following passage, though state agencies could begin preparatory administrative actions in advance. Broader developments related to New Jersey veterans services are expected as the proposal advances through the legislative process.