38:17-2.1 Identification of indigent deceased person; determination of veteran status; definitions.
185 words·~1 min read·
/nj/title-38/chapter-17/38-17-2-1·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
2. The county medical examiner, or a designee, shall be responsible for the positive identification of an unidentified indigent deceased person. The supervisor of veterans' interment or county medical examiner, as appropriate, shall contact the Department of Veterans Affairs upon receipt of an unclaimed indigent deceased person to ascertain the veteran status of the person. The supervisor of veterans' interment or county medical examiner, as appropriate, shall be notified upon determination of the veteran status of the person.
If the person was a veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, the supervisor of veterans' interment or county medical examiner, as appropriate, shall cause burial or cremation to occur within 72 hours of notification of veteran status.
For the purposes of this section:
"Indigent" shall mean a person who has an income that is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and
"Poverty level" shall mean the official poverty level based on family size established and adjusted under Section 673(2) of Subtitle B. of the federal "Community Services Block Grant Act," Pub.L.97-35 (42 U.S.C. s.9902(2)).
L.2013, c.238, s.2; amended 2023, c.17, s.2; 2025, c.139, s.87.