N.J. Stat. Ann. § 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-39
Definitions
Operative Text
1. As used in this act: a. "Affirmative action program for veterans" means a plan guaranteeing to veterans an equal employment opportunity, which includes, but is not limited to, the following areas: recruitment, selection, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, layoff, return from layoff, compensation, and fringe benefits. b. "Public works contract" means any contract exceeding $250,000 in price to be performed for or on behalf of the State for the construction, alteration, or repair of any building or public work. c. "Veteran " means any enlisted person or officer who has served at least 90 days in active service in the Armed Forces of the United States and has been discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable, and who has presented to the Civil Service Commission of New Jersey full and convincing evidence of such record of service on or before the date of making application for a position governed by this act. The 90-day requirement for active service is exclusive of any time such veteran was assigned: (1) for a course of education or training under the Army Specialized Training Program or the Navy College Training Program, which course was a continuation of the veteran’s civilian course and was pursued to completion; or (2) as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies; and exclusive of any service performed pursuant to the provisions of section 511(d) of Title 10, United States Code, pursuant to an enlistment in the Army or Air Force National Guard or as a reserve for service in the Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve; provided that any person receiving an actual, service-incurred injury or disability shall be classed as a veteran, whether or not the person has completed the 90 days' service as herein provided. L.1983, c.197, s.1; amended 2017, c.184, s.5; 2025, c.307, s.8.
Section 10:5-39 of N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. establishes the foundational definitions that govern a New Jersey law requiring affirmative action for veterans in public works contracting. The provision defines key terms — including what qualifies as an 'affirmative action program for veterans,' what constitutes a 'public works contract' (any state contract exceeding $250,000 for construction, alteration, or repair), and who qualifies as a 'veteran' under the act. The veteran definition centers on at least 90 days of active military service with an honorable discharge, though certain training assignments and service-incurred injuries are treated specially under the statute.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Although § 10:5-39 of N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. is primarily directed at public works contractors rather than residential landlords, property owners who enter into state construction or repair contracts valued above $250,000 should be aware that these definitional provisions set the scope of the affirmative action obligations that follow in the act. Compliant operators in that contracting context generally ensure their employment practices — covering recruitment, hiring, promotion, and compensation — align with the 'affirmative action program for veterans' as defined in this section. Understanding which workers qualify as 'veterans' under the statute's 90-day active-service standard, including the exceptions for service-incurred injuries, is a foundational step in administering a compliant program.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 10:5-39 of N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. is a definitions provision within a law focused on veterans' employment rights in state public works contracting, so it does not directly create tenant rights in a residential housing context. However, veterans who are also workers or job applicants on qualifying state construction projects may find that the definitions here — particularly the broad definition of 'veteran' and the inclusion of those with service-incurred injuries — are relevant to understanding their employment protections under the broader act. Those who believe their rights under this statute have been affected may consider consulting a tenant-rights or workers'-rights organization, or reaching out to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, which is referenced in the provision as the body to which veterans present evidence of their service record.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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