39:3-10f6 Display of veteran, Gold Star Family status on driver's licenses, identification cards.

1. a. (1) In addition to the requirements for the form and content of a motor vehicle driver's license under R.S.39:3-10 and a probationary license issued under section 4 of P.L.1950, c.127 (C.39:3-13.4), the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall, upon submission of satisfactory proof, designate on an initial license, renewal license, or probationary license, as appropriate, that the license holder is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States of America or the New Jersey National Guard. The designation of veteran status on an initial license, renewal license, or probationary license shall not be deemed sufficient valid proof of veteran status for official governmental purposes when any other statute, or any regulation or other directive of a governmental entity, requires documentation of veteran status.

(2) In addition to the requirements for the form and content of a motor vehicle driver's license under R.S.39:3-10 and a probationary license issued under section 4 of P.L.1950, c.127 (C.39:3-13.4), the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall, upon submission of satisfactory proof, designate on an initial license, renewal license, or probationary license, as appropriate, that the license holder is a Gold Star Family member. The commission shall provide to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs personal identifying information of any person issued a driver's license with a Gold Star Family designation pursuant to this section.

b. For the purpose of this section:

"Gold Star Family member" means a spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, parent, brother, sister, child, legal guardian, or other legal custodian, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption, of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard, who lost his or her life while on active duty for the United States.

"Veteran" means a person who has been honorably discharged from the active military service of the United States or from service in the New Jersey National Guard.

"Satisfactory proof" means, in the case of a veteran, a copy of form NGB-22, DD-214 or federal activation orders showing service under Title 10, section 672 or section 12301, of the United States Code, or a county veteran identification card only if issuance of the card requires a copy of form NGB-22, DD-214 discharge papers or approved separation forms as outlined by all branches of the military and duly recorded by the county clerk's office. In the case of a Gold Star Family member, satisfactory proof includes any or all of the following:

(1) a certification from the Department of New Jersey of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., or any other organization formed for the support of family members of members of the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard, who lost their lives while on active duty for the United States, that the applicant is either the spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, parent, brother, sister, child, legal guardian, or other legal custodian, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption, of a member of the armed forces or National Guard who died while on active duty for the United States; or

(2) (a) documentation deemed acceptable by the Adjutant General, including, but not limited to, an NGB-22, a federal DD Form 1300, Report of Casualty, or a federal DD Form 2064, Certificate of Death Overseas, which identifies the member of the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard who died while on active duty for the United States; and

(b) documentation indicating the applicant's relationship to the service member.

L.2013, c.165, s.1; 2013, c.165, s.1; amended 2015, c.97, s.1; 2017, c.175, s.5; 2019, c.255, s.1.