Allen Introduces Legislation to Assist Military Families

Senator Diane Allen (R-7) has introduced two legislative initiatives to assist military members and their families. The first bill would provide unemployment benefits for certain spouses of National Guard members, while the second would assist children who transfer schools due to a military parent's reassignment or deployment.

"Soldiers and service members have accepted the responsibility to keep our country safe and we at home have the responsibility to assist them and their families in whatever capacity we can, " Allen stated. "Both pieces of legislation will help our troops and their families by providing additional assistance and support, helping them cut through the red tape and bureaucracy that plagues them while they are deployed overseas."

Senate Bill 2181 would permit the spouse of an active member of the New Jersey National Guard to receive unemployment (UI) benefits if the individual left work as the result of an "extreme emergency or family hardship" which occurred due to the deployment of his or her spouse. Under current law, the spouse would not qualify for unemployment insurance benefits because the law regards the separation from work as voluntary and without good cause attributable to the work.

The second bill would commit New Jersey to the terms of the "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children." States that sign on to the compact agree to work collectively with other compact states to ease the transition for students in military families who transfer schools. Amongst other things, the states agree to uniform standards of practice regarding the transfer of records, course placement and graduation requirements.

"Oftentimes soldiers are the focus of attention, while the needs of their families and loved ones remain in the background, " Allen continued. "If soldiers know their families are being taken care of while they are deployed, that will help boost troop morale and allow them to concentrate on the mission at hand."