NJ Senate Passes Bill That Would Help Veterans Get Mental Health Care

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A bipartisan bill that would help New Jersey military veterans struggling with mental health issues to qualify for care – regardless of their discharge status – has cleared the state Senate.

The proposed law, S-2383, is sponsored by Sen. Kristin Corrado (District 40), a Republican who represents several towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties, and Sen. Joseph Cryan (District 20), a Democrat who represents towns in Union County.

Here’s what it would do if it becomes law, according to Corrado:

“Currently, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (DMAVA) distributes material to all public agencies of the availability of assistance and helps provide assistance to former service members who were separated from the service with a general or other than honorable discharge due solely to their sexual orientation or gender identity … S-2383 expands the assistance to include former service members diagnosed with service-connected mental health conditions. To ensure all vets regardless of discharge designation could get the mental health help they need, the bill would require DMAVA to assist them with the necessary forms and conditions required to petition the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to upgrade discharge papers.”

“Too many veterans are wrestling with mental health conditions related to their service, but they are abandoned because they received ‘other than honorable’ discharges for any number of reasons,” Corrado said.

“Discharge designations shouldn’t stand in the way of potentially life-changing professional assistance for those who served,” she urged.

“These veterans served our nation, and as a result they are struggling,” Corrado said, adding that once their designations are changed, they will be eligible for the same assistance currently offered to their “honorably discharged” colleagues.

• See related article: Thousands Of NJ Veterans Struggle With 'Bad Paper Discharges'

The bill would take effect immediately after its passage. It was passed unanimously in the Senate on June 16. A companion bill, A-3879, has been referred to the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.