N.J. Stat. tit. 38, ch. 20

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 38:20-1 "War orphans" ; "war" ; "in time of emergency" defined

For the purpose of this chapter, the term "war orphans" shall mean and include any child between the ages of 16 and 21 years, domiciled in this State for at least 12 months prior to the time of application for benefits under this chapter, who being otherwise qualified is the child of any resident of this State who was killed in action or died from other causes while a member of the Armed Forces of the United States in time of war or emergency, or who is officially listed as "Missing In Action" by the Department of Defense or who died or shall hereafter die of disease or disability resulting from such war or emergency service. As used in this act, "war" shall mean World War I, being any time between April 6, 1917, to July 2, 1921, and World War II, being any time between September 16, 1940, and September 2, 1945. As used in this act, the term "in time of emergency" shall mean and include any time after June 23, 1950, and prior to the termination, suspension or revocation of the proclamation of the existence of a national emergency issued by the President of the United States on December 16, 1950, or termination of the existence of such national emergency by appropriate action of the President or Congress of the United States; the term "in time of emergency" shall also mean and include any time of armed hostility or conflict with a foreign adversary after December 31, 1960, and prior to the termination of the existence of such armed hostility or conflict with a foreign adversary by appropriate action of the President or Congress of the United States. Amended by L.1944, c. 197, p. 713, s. 1; L.1951, c. 65, p. 426, s. 1; L.1955, c. 174, p. 730, s. 1, eff. July 28, 1955; L.1975, c. 225, s. 1, eff. Oct. 15, 1975.

N.J. Stat. § 38:20-2 Appropriation for education; sum allotted each orphan

There is appropriated for the purposes of this chapter such sum as shall be included in any annual or supplemental appropriation act. In no case shall the sum exceed $500.00 for any one child annually. Such sum shall be used to defray the cost and expense of the attendance of any such orphan at any State educational or other technical or professional school of a secondary or college grade, approved by the State Board of Education located in this State or outside the State if the desired course is not offered by a school or college in the State. The sum so allotted in each case shall be used for tuition or matriculation fees, board and room rent, books and supplies and other purposes incidental thereto. Amended by L.1952, c. 49, p. 369, s. 1; L.1955, c. 174, p. 731, s. 2; L.1966, c. 48, s. 1, eff. May 24, 1966.

N.J. Stat. § 38:20-3 Application for benefits; limited allotments.

38:20-3. Application for such benefits shall be made to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which shall make rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions thereof. It shall ascertain and approve the educational aptitude of the applicant for the course of study desired to be pursued in accordance with tests or standards prescribed or approved by the State Department of Education and the financial need of the applicant and may satisfy itself of the attendance of such applicants and the accuracy of the charges made by the institution which the applicant attends. No more than four annual allotments of $500.00 each shall be allowed any such applicant. Amended 1945,c.105; 1952,c.49,s.2; 1955,c.174,s.3; 1991,c.39,s.1; 2025, c.139, s.89.

N.J. Stat. § 38:20-4 Allotments when child over twenty-one years

When the application of any such war orphan shall have been granted in the first instance as herein provided, then the maximum number of annual allotments provided by section 38:20-3 of this title may be granted to such applicant for and during consecutive years regardless of the fact such applicant shall be over the age of twenty-one years at the time of the granting of any such annual allotment subsequent to the first.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026