NJ S1627

Creates the Veterans State Government Fellowship program at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University to provide education and training in executive and legislative processes for veterans interested in law, public policy, and politics.

Selects eight veterans annually: four assigned to legislative offices (Senate Majority, Senate Minority, Assembly Majority, and Assembly Minority) and four assigned to participating state departments or agencies.

Eligibility requires New Jersey residency, honorable discharge within the past 10 years, and pay grade at or below E-9 for enlisted members or O-5 for officers at time of discharge.

Fellows receive stipends commensurate with other paid annual fellowships at Rutgers, with legislative fellows serving during the annual session and executive branch fellows serving for one year.

Appropriates $600,000 annually from the State General Fund to Rutgers University for the program, with re-evaluation of funding every three years.