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General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5592
January Session, 2021
LCO No. 5436
Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AFFAIRS
Introduced by:
(VA)
AN ACT REDEFINING "VETERAN" AND ESTABLIS HING A
QUALIFIED CONDITION REVIEW BOARD.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 27-103 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 2
(a) As used in the general statutes, except chapter 504, and except as 3
otherwise provided: (1) "Armed forces" means the United States Army, 4
Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force and any reserve 5
component thereof, including the Connecticut National Guard 6
performing duty as provided in Title 32 of the United States Code, as 7
amended from time to time; (2) "veteran" means any person honorably 8
discharged from, [or] released under honorable conditions from or 9
released with an other than honorable discharge based on a qualifying 10
condition as set forth in this section, from active service in, the armed 11
forces; (3) "service in time of war" means service of ninety or more 12
cumulative days during a period of war unless separated from service 13
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earlier because of an injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty or 14
a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of 15
Veterans Affairs, except that if the period of war lasted less than ninety 16
days, "service in time of war" means service for the entire such period of 17
war unless separated because of any such injury or disability; (4) "period 18
of war" has the same meaning as provided in 38 USC 101, as amended 19
from time to time, except that the "Vietnam Era" means the period 20
beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on July 1, 1975, in all cases; 21
and "period of war" shall include service while engaged in combat or a 22
combat support role in Lebanon, July 1, 1958, to November 1, 1958, or 23
September 29, 1982, to March 30, 1984; Grenada, October 25, 1983, to 24
December 15, 1983; Operation Earnest Will, involving the escort of 25
Kuwaiti oil tankers flying the United States flag in the Persian Gulf, July 26
24, 1987, to August 1, 1990; and Panama, December 20, 1989, to January 27
31, 1990, and shall include service during such periods with the armed 28
forces of any government associated with the United States; and (5) 29
"qualifying condition" means (A) a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress 30
disorder or traumatic brain injury made by [, or (B)] an individual 31
licensed to provide health care services at a United States Department 32
of Veterans Affairs facility, (B) an experience of military sexual trauma, 33
as described in 38 USC 1720D, as amended from time to time, disclosed 34
to [,] an individual licensed to provide health care services at a United 35
States Department of Veterans Affairs facility, (C) a mental health 36
condition that was more likely than not a contributing factor for an other 37
than honorable discharge, as determined in accordance with 38
subsections (c) and (d) of this section, or (D) a determination that sexual 39
orientation, gender identity or gender expression was more likely than 40
not the sole reason for an other than honorable discharge, as determined 41
in accordance with subsections (c) and (d) of this section. 42
(b) As used in this part, "Veterans Residential Services facility" means 43
the Veterans Residential Services facility in Rocky Hill maintained by 44
the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides temporary and other 45
supported residential services for qualifying veterans; "hospital" means 46
any incorporated hospital or tuberculosis sanatorium in the state and 47
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any state chronic disease hospital, or hospital for persons with mental 48
illness; "Healthcare Center" means the hospital in Rocky Hill maintained 49
by the Department of Veterans Affairs; "veteran" means any veteran, as 50
defined in subsection (a) of this section, who is a resident of this state; 51
"eligible dependent" means any parent, wife or husband, or child of a 52
veteran who has no adequate means of support; and "eligible family 53
member" means any parent, brother or sister, wife or husband, or child 54
or children under eighteen years of age, of any veteran whose 55
cooperation in the program is integral to the treatment of the veteran. 56
(c) Not later than October 1, 2021, the Commissioner of Veterans 57
Affairs shall establish a Qualified Condition Review Board, which shall 58
review applications of veterans submitted under subsection (d) of this 59
section. Said board shall be part of the Executive Department and shall 60
consist of five voting members who, by education or experience, shall 61
be knowledgeable of veterans benefits and programs and who shall 62
have a demonstrated interest in the concerns of veterans. A majority of 63
the members of the board shall be veterans. 64
(1) The membership of the board shall consist of the following 65
members: 66
(A) One member appointed by the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs 67
in consultation with the chairperson of the Department of Veterans 68
Affairs Board of Trustees, who shall be a member of said board; 69
(B) The manager of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of 70
Advocacy and Assistance, or the manager's designee; and 71
(C) Three members appointed by the Commissioner of Veterans 72
Affairs. 73
(2) All initial appointments to the board shall be made not later than 74
December 1, 2021, and shall terminate on November 31, 2023, or 75
November 31, 2024, as applicable, regardless of when the initial 76
appointment was made. Any member of the board may serve more than 77
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one term. 78
(3) Members first appointed shall have the following terms: (A) The 79
member of the Department of Veterans Affairs Board of Trustees and 80
the manager of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Advocacy 81
and Assistance, or the manager's designee, shall initially serve a term of 82
three years, and (B) the three members appointed by the Commissioner 83
of Veterans Affairs shall initially serve a term of two years. Members 84
shall serve a term of four years thereafter. Members shall continue to 85
serve until their successors are appointed. 86
(4) Any vacancy shall be filled by the Commissioner of Veterans 87
Affairs. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be 88
filled for the balance of the unexpired term. 89
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of section 4-9a, 90
the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall select the chairperson of the 91
board from among the members of the board. Such chairperson shall 92
schedule the first meeting of the board, which shall be held not later 93
than January 1, 2022. 94
(6) A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the 95
transaction of any business. 96
(7) The members of the board shall serve without compensation. 97
(8) The board shall meet at least monthly or as often as deemed 98
necessary by the chairperson based on the number of applications 99
pending before the board. 100
(d) (1) Any veteran who receives an other than honorable discharge 101
and who believes such discharge characterization is (A) due to a mental 102
health condition suffered by such veteran, or (B) based on such veteran's 103
sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, may file an 104
application for state-based veterans benefits. 105
(2) The commissioner shall promulgate a standardized application 106
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form enumerating the required documentation necessary for filing an 107
application under this subsection and shall make such form available on 108
the Department of Veterans Affairs' Internet web site along with 109
instructions for filing the application. 110
(3) The commissioner shall promulgate a standardized request for 111
reconsideration form enumerating the required documentation 112
necessary for filing a request for reconsideration pursuant to 113
subdivision (6) of this subsection and shall make such form available on 114
the Department of Veterans Affairs' Internet web site along with 115
instructions for filing the request for reconsideration. 116
(4) The board shall review each application submitted and render a 117
recommendation to the commissioner as to whether (A) the veteran has 118
a mental health condition that was more likely than not a contributing 119
factor for an other than honorable discharge, or (B) the veteran's sexual 120
orientation, gender identity or gender expression was more likely than 121
not the sole reason for an other than honorable discharge. The board 122
shall review each application not later than thirty days after receipt and 123
render a written recommendation to the commissioner not later than 124
thirty days after such review. The commissioner shall issue a written 125
decision not later than ten days after receipt of the board's 126
recommendation, approving or denying the application. If the 127
commissioner approves the application, such veteran shall be eligible 128
for state-based veterans benefits. 129
(5) In making a determination under subdivision (4) of this 130
subsection, the board shall presume (A) the veteran has a mental health 131
condition that was more likely than not a contributing factor for an other 132
than honorable discharge, or (B) the veteran's sexual orientation, gender 133
identity or gender expression was more likely than not the sole reason 134
for an other than honorable discharge, if (i) the veteran presents 135
evidence of a diagnosis of a mental health condition made by an 136
individual licensed to provide health care services at a United States 137
Department of Veterans Affairs facility; or (ii) the veteran's narrative 138
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reason for separation documented on the DD-214 form references the 139
veteran's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. 140
(6) A veteran aggrieved by the commissioner's decision may file a 141
request for reconsideration with the commissioner not later than fifteen 142
days after receipt of the commissioner's decision. Such veteran may 143
include supplemental documentation in support of the request for 144
reconsideration. The commissioner shall provide due consideration to 145
the request for reconsideration and render a decision not later than ten 146
days after receipt of such request for reconsideration. The 147
commissioner's decision shall be a final decision by the Department of 148
Veterans Affairs and may be appealed to the Superior Court in 149
accordance with the provisions of section 4-193. 150
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 4-61bb of the general statutes is 151
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 152
1, 2021): 153
(a) For the purposes of this section, "licensing authority" means the 154
Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Emergency 155
Services and Public Protection, the Labor Department, the Department 156
of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Public Health, the Board of 157
Regents for Higher Education, the Office of Higher Education, the Board 158
of Trustees of The University of Connecticut or the Police Officer 159
Standards and Training Council; "service member" means a member of 160
the armed forces or the National Guard or a veteran; "armed forces" has 161
the same meaning as set forth in section 27-103; and "veteran" [means 162
any person who was discharged or released under conditions other than 163
dishonorable from active service in the armed forces] has the same 164
meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 165
Sec. 3. Subsection (c) of section 4a-59 of the general statutes is 166
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 167
1, 2021): 168
(c) All open market orders or contracts shall be awarded to (1) the 169
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lowest responsible qualified bidder, the qualities of the articles to be 170
supplied, their conformity with the specifications, their suitability to the 171
requirements of the state government and the delivery terms being 172
taken into consideration and, at the discretion of the Commissioner of 173
Administrative Services, life-cycle costs and trade-in or resale value of 174
the articles may be considered where it appears to be in the best interest 175
of the state, (2) the highest scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid, in 176
accordance with the criteria set forth in the bid solicitation for the 177
contract, or (3) the proposer whose proposal is deemed by the awarding 178
authority to be the most advantageous to the state, in accordance with 179
the criteria set forth in the request for proposals, including price and 180
evaluation factors. Notwithstanding any provision of the general 181
statutes to the contrary, each state agency awarding a contract through 182
competitive negotiation shall include price as an explicit factor in the 183
criteria in the request for proposals and for the contract award. In 184
considering past performance of a bidder for the purpose of 185
determining the "lowest responsible qualified bidder" or the "highest 186
scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid", the commissioner shall 187
evaluate the skill, ability and integrity of the bidder in terms of the 188
bidder's fulfillment of past contract obligations and the bidder's 189
experience or lack of experience in delivering supplies, materials, 190
equipment or contractual services of the size or amount for which bids 191
have been solicited. In determining the lowest responsible qualified 192
bidder for the purposes of this section, the commissioner may give a 193
price preference of up to ten per cent for (A) the purchase of goods made 194
with recycled materials or the purchase of recyclable or remanufactured 195
products if the commissioner determines that such preference would 196
promote recycling or remanufacturing. As used in this subsection, 197
"recyclable" means able to be collected, separated or otherwise 198
recovered from the solid waste stream for reuse, or for use in the 199
manufacture or assembly of another package or product, by means of a 200
recycling program which is reasonably available to at least seventy-five 201
per cent of the state's population, "remanufactured" means restored to 202
its original function and thereby diverted from the solid waste stream 203
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by retaining the bulk of components that have been used at least once 204
and by replacing consumable components and "remanufacturing" 205
means any process by which a product is remanufactured; (B) the 206
purchase of motor vehicles powered by a clean alternative fuel; (C) the 207
purchase of motor vehicles powered by fuel other than a clean 208
alternative fuel and conversion equipment to convert such motor 209
vehicles allowing the vehicles to be powered by either the exclusive use 210
of clean alternative fuel or dual use of a clean alternative fuel and a fuel 211
other than a clean alternative fuel. As used in this subsection, "clean 212
alternative fuel" means natural gas, electricity, hydrogen or propane 213
when used as a motor vehicle fuel; or (D) the purchase of goods or 214
services from a micro business, except that, in the case of a veteran-215
owned micro business, the commissioner may give a price preference of 216
up to fifteen per cent. As used in this subsection, "micro business" means 217
a business with gross revenues not exceeding three million dollars in the 218
most recently completed fiscal year, "veteran-owned micro business" 219
means a micro business of which at least fifty-one per cent of the 220
ownership is held by one or more veterans and "veteran" [means any 221
person (i) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable 222
conditions from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 223
27-103, or (ii) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who 224
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 225
active service in the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided 226
in section 27-103, as amended by this act. All other factors being equal, 227
preference shall be given to supplies, materials and equipment 228
produced, assembled or manufactured in the state and services 229
originating and provided in the state. Except with regard to contracts 230
that may be paid for with United States Department of Transportation 231
funds, if any such bidder refuses to accept, within ten days, a contract 232
awarded to such bidder, such contract may be awarded to the next 233
lowest responsible qualified bidder or the next highest scoring bidder in 234
a multiple criteria bid, whichever is applicable, and so on until such 235
contract is awarded and accepted. Except with regard to contracts that 236
may be paid for with United States Department of Transportation funds, 237
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if any such proposer refuses to accept, within ten days, a contract 238
awarded to such proposer, such contract shall be awarded to the next 239
most advantageous proposer, and so on until the contract is awarded 240
and accepted. There shall be a written evaluation made of each bid. This 241
evaluation shall identify the vendors and their respective costs and 242
prices, document the reason why any vendor is deemed to be 243
nonresponsive and recommend a vendor for award. A contract valued 244
at one million dollars or more shall be awarded to a bidder other than 245
the lowest responsible qualified bidder or the highest scoring bidder in 246
a multiple criteria bid, whichever is applicable, only with written 247
approval signed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services and 248
by the Comptroller. The commissioner shall post on the department's 249
Internet web site all awards made pursuant to the provisions of this 250
section. 251
Sec. 4. Subdivision (28) of section 5-196 of the general statutes is 252
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 253
1, 2021): 254
(28) "Veteran", when used in this chapter and in section 5-180, [means 255
any person (A) (i) honorably discharged from, or released under 256
honorable conditions from active service in, the armed forces of the 257
United States, or (ii) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 258
27-103, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 259
dishonorable from active service in the armed forces of the United 260
States] has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended 261
by this act, and (B) who has performed such service in time of war, as 262
defined in said section, except that the final date for service in time of 263
war during World War II shall be December 31, 1947. 264
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 7-294d of the general statutes is 265
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 266
1, 2021): 267
(b) No person may be employed as a police officer by any law 268
enforcement unit for a period exceeding one year unless such person 269
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has been certified under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section 270
or has been granted an extension by the council. No person may serve 271
as a police officer during any period when such person's certification 272
has been cancelled or revoked pursuant to the provisions of subsection 273
(c) of this section. In addition to the requirements of this subsection, the 274
council may establish other qualifications for the employment of police 275
officers and require evidence of fulfillment of these qualifications. The 276
certification of any police officer who is not employed by a law 277
enforcement unit for a period of time in excess of two years, unless such 278
officer is on leave of absence, shall be considered lapsed. Upon 279
reemployment as a police officer, such officer shall apply for 280
recertification in a manner provided by the council, provided such 281
recertification process requires the police officer to submit to a urinalysis 282
drug test that screens for controlled substances, including, but not 283
limited to, anabolic steroids, and receive a result indicating no presence 284
of any controlled substance not prescribed for the officer. The council 285
shall certify any applicant who presents evidence of satisfactory 286
completion of a program or course of instruction in another state or, if 287
the applicant is a veteran or a member of the armed forces or the 288
National Guard, as part of training during service in the armed forces, 289
that is equivalent in content and quality to that required in this state, 290
provided such applicant passes an examination or evaluation as 291
required by the council. For the purposes of this section, "veteran" 292
[means any person who was discharged or released under conditions 293
other than dishonorable from active service in the armed forces] and 294
"armed forces" [has] have the same [meaning] meanings as provided in 295
section 27-103, as amended by this act. 296
Sec. 6. Section 8-75 of the general statutes is repealed and the 297
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 298
As among applicants eligible for occupancy at the rent involved 299
whose needs for housing accommodations are substantially equal, as 300
determined by the developer, preference shall be given to veterans. As 301
used in this section, "veteran" [means any person (1) honorably 302
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discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active 303
service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or (2) with a 304
qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has received a 305
discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in 306
the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, 307
as amended by this act. 308
Sec. 7. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 10-5 of the general 309
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 310
(Effective October 1, 2021): 311
(a) The Commissioner of Education shall, in accordance with this 312
section, issue a state high school diploma to any person (1) who 313
successfully completes an examination approved by the commissioner, 314
or (2) who (A) is seventeen years of age and has been officially 315
withdrawn from school in accordance with the provisions of section 10-316
184 or is eighteen years of age or older, and (B) presents to the 317
commissioner evidence demonstrating educational qualifications which 318
the commissioner deems equivalent to those required for graduation 319
from a public high school. Application for such a diploma shall be made 320
in the manner and form prescribed by the commissioner provided, at 321
the time of application to take the examination described in subdivision 322
(1) of this subsection, the applicant is seventeen years of age or older, 323
has been officially withdrawn from school, in accordance with section 324
10-184, for at least six months and has been advised, in such manner as 325
may be prescribed by the commissioner, of the other options for high 326
school completion and other available educational programs. For good 327
cause shown, the commissioner may allow a person who is sixteen years 328
of age to apply to take the examination, provided the commissioner may 329
not issue a state high school diploma to such person until the person has 330
attained seventeen years of age. 331
(b) Application to take or retake the examination described in 332
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall be accompanied by 333
a money order or certified check in the nonrefundable amount of 334
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thirteen dollars. This amount shall include the fee for the state high 335
school diploma. 336
(c) No (1) veteran, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this 337
act, (2) member of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, as 338
amended by this act, [(3) person with a qualifying condition, as defined 339
in said section, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 340
dishonorable from active service in the armed forces,] or [(4)] (3) person 341
under twenty-one years of age shall be required to pay the fees 342
described in subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner may waive 343
any fee described in subsection (b) of this section upon the submission 344
of evidence indicating an inability to pay. 345
Sec. 8. Subsection (i) of section 10-221a of the general statutes is 346
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 347
1, 2021): 348
(i) (1) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to 349
a veteran, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by 350
this act, [or a person with a qualifying condition, as defined in said 351
section, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 352
dishonorable from active service in the armed forces,] which veteran or 353
person served during World War II or the Korean hostilities, as 354
described in section 51-49h, or during the Vietnam Era, as defined in 355
section 27-103, as amended by this act, withdrew from high school prior 356
to graduation in order to serve in the armed forces of the United States 357
and did not receive a diploma as a consequence of such service. 358
(2) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to 359
any person who (A) withdrew from high school prior to graduation to 360
work in a job that assisted the war effort during World War II, December 361
7, 1941, to December 31, 1946, inclusive, (B) did not receive a diploma as 362
a consequence of such work, and (C) has been a resident of the state for 363
at least fifty consecutive years. 364
Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 10a-77 of the general statutes is 365
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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 366
1, 2021): 367
(d) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition at any of 368
the regional community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent child 369
of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to 370
be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in 371
such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted 372
for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time 373
such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the 374
provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any [(A)] veteran, as 375
defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, who performed 376
service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this 377
act, [or (B) person with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, 378
who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 379
from active service in the armed forces and who performed service in 380
time of war,] except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time 381
of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service 382
academy, which veteran [or person] has been accepted for admission to 383
such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran 384
[or person] is accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any 385
resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older, provided, at the end 386
of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a 387
sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible for 388
waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such 389
resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such course 390
after accommodating all such students, (4) for any student attending the 391
Connecticut State Police Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement 392
program at said academy offered in coordination with a regional 393
community-technical college which accredits courses taken in such 394
program, (5) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air 395
National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or 396
such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the 397
guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution 398
on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate degree-granting 399
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program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined 400
in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) 401
firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire 402
company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in 403
section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of the state 404
who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist 405
victim who was a resident of this state, (8) for any dependent child of a 406
resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the 407
intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, 408
and (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or 409
surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing 410
active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or 411
after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state. If any 412
person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions 413
of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an 414
employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such 415
educational reimbursement. Veterans [and persons described in 416
subdivision (2) of this subsection] and members of the National Guard 417
described in subdivision (5) of this subsection shall be given the same 418
status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for courses 419
at regional community-technical colleges. Notwithstanding the 420
provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in 421
this state" includes domicile for less than one year. 422
Sec. 10. Subsection (d) of section 10a-99 of the general statutes is 423
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 424
1, 2021): 425
(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees at the 426
Connecticut State University System (1) for any dependent child of a 427
person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be 428
missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such 429
armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for 430
admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time 431
such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the 432
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provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any [(A)] veteran, as 433
defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, who performed 434
service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this 435
act, [or (B) person with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, 436
who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 437
from active service in the armed forces and who performed service in 438
time of war,] except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time 439
of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service 440
academy, which veteran [or person] has been accepted for admission to 441
such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran 442
[or person] is accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any 443
resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been 444
accepted for admission to such institution, provided (A) such resident 445
is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular 446
registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number 447
of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to 448
this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to 449
enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating 450
all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut Police 451
Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said 452
academy offered in coordination with the university which accredits 453
courses taken in such program, (5) for any active member of the 454
Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by 455
the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member 456
in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for 457
admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an 458
undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (6) for any 459
dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or 460
supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in 461
section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 462
employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 463
the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state who is a dependent 464
child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a 465
resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state 466
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who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of 467
Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (9) for 468
any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse 469
of a person who was killed in action while performing active military 470
duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 471
11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state. If any person who receives 472
a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also 473
receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver 474
shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. 475
Veterans [and persons described in subdivision (2) of this subsection] 476
and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (5) of this 477
subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 478
tuition waivers in registering for courses at Connecticut state 479
universities. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used 480
in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less 481
than one year. 482
Sec. 11. Subsection (e) of section 10a-105 of the general statutes is 483
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 484
1, 2021): 485
(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees at 486
The University of Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person 487
whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing 488
in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed 489
forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission 490
to The University of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time 491
such child is accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the 492
provisions of subsection (f) of this section, for any [(A)] veteran, as 493
defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, who performed 494
service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this 495
act, [or (B) person with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, 496
who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 497
from active service in the armed forces and who performed service in 498
time of war,] except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time 499
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of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service 500
academy, which veteran [or person] has been accepted for admission to 501
said institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran [or 502
person] is accepted for admission to said institution, (3) for any resident 503
of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for 504
admission to said institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in 505
a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration 506
period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students 507
other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this 508
subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll 509
and there is space available in such course after accommodating all such 510
students, (4) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air 511
National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or 512
such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the 513
guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution 514
on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate 515
degree-granting program, (5) for any dependent child of a (A) police 516
officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary 517
police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of 518
a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state 519
employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) for 520
any resident of the state who is the dependent child or surviving spouse 521
of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (7) for any 522
dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a 523
multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and 524
Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (8) for any resident of the state 525
who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was 526
killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed 527
forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was 528
a resident of this state. If any person who receives a tuition waiver in 529
accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives 530
educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be 531
reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans 532
[and persons described in subdivision (2) of this subsection] and 533
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members of the National Guard described in subdivision (4) of this 534
subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 535
tuition waivers in registering for courses at The University of 536
Connecticut. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used 537
in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less 538
than one year. 539
Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 10a-149d of the general statutes is 540
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 541
1, 2021): 542
(a) An institution of higher education shall award college credit for 543
military occupational specialty training to a member of the armed forces 544
or the National Guard or a veteran who enrolls at such institution and 545
has experience in a military occupation recognized by such institution 546
as substituting for or meeting the requirements of a particular course of 547
study. For the purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person 548
who was discharged or released under conditions other than 549
dishonorable from active service in the armed forces] and "armed 550
forces" [has] have the same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 551
27-103, as amended by this act. 552
Sec. 13. Subsection (a) of section 10a-161d of the general statutes is 553
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 554
1, 2021): 555
(a) As used in this section: 556
(1) "Eligible student without legal immigration status" means any 557
person who (A) is entitled to classification as an in-state student for 558
tuition purposes pursuant to subdivision (9) of section 10a-29, (B) was 559
thirty years of age or younger on June 15, 2012, (C) was sixteen years of 560
age or younger when he or she arrived in the United States and has 561
continuously resided in the United States since such arrival, and (D) has 562
not been convicted of a felony in this state or in another state; 563
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(2) "Eligible veteran without legal immigration status" means any 564
[person who (A) is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces 565
of the United States] veteran, as defined in section 27-103, as amended 566
by this act, without legal immigration status, who (B) was thirty years 567
of age or younger on June 15, 2012, (C) was fifteen years of age or 568
younger when he or she arrived in the United States and has 569
continuously resided in the United States since such arrival, and (D) has 570
not been convicted of a felony in this state or in another state; 571
(3) "Institutional financial aid" means funds set aside from the 572
anticipated tuition revenue of an institution of higher education for the 573
purposes of providing tuition waivers, tuition remissions, grants for 574
educational expenses and student employment for full-time or part-575
time students who are enrolled in a degree-granting program or a 576
precollege remedial program and who demonstrate substantial 577
financial need; and 578
(4) "Public institution of higher education" means those institutions 579
of higher education identified in subdivisions (1) and (2) of section 10a-580
1. 581
Sec. 14. Subdivision (19) of section 12-81 of the general statutes is 582
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 583
1, 2021, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 584
2021): 585
(19) Subject to the provisions of sections 12-89, 12-90 and 12-95, 586
property to the amount of one thousand dollars belonging to, or held in 587
trust for, (A) any resident of this state who is a veteran, as defined in 588
section 27-103, as amended by this act, who was a member of the armed 589
forces in service in time of war, (B) any resident of this state who was a 590
citizen of the United States at the time of his enlistment and who was in 591
the military or naval service of a government allied or associated with 592
that of the United States during the Second World War and received an 593
honorable discharge therefrom, (C) any resident of this state who served 594
during the Second World War as a member of any armed force of any 595
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government signatory to the United Nations Declaration of January 1, 596
1942, and participated in armed conflict with an enemy of the United 597
States and who has been a citizen of the United States for at least ten 598
years and presents satisfactory evidence of such service, (D) any 599
resident of this state who served as a member of the crew of a merchant 600
vessel during the Second World War and is qualified with respect to 601
such service as a member of the group known as the "American 602
Merchant Marine in ocean-going service during the period of armed 603
conflict, December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945", members of which are 604
deemed to be eligible for certain veterans benefits under a 605
determination in the United States Department of Defense, as recorded 606
in the Federal Register of February 1, 1988, provided such resident has 607
received an armed forces discharge certificate from the Department of 608
Defense on the basis of such service, (E) any member of the armed forces 609
who was in service in time of war and is still in the service and by reason 610
of continuous service has not as yet received a discharge, (F) any person 611
who is retired from the armed forces after thirty years of service because 612
he has reached the age limit prescribed by law or because he suffers 613
from mental or physical disability, [(G) any person with a qualifying 614
condition who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 615
dishonorable from active service in the armed forces and who was in 616
service in time of war,] or [(H)] (G) any person who is serving in the 617
armed services in time of war; or lacking said amount of property in his 618
own name, so much of the property belonging to, or held in trust for, his 619
spouse, who is domiciled with him, as is necessary to equal said amount. 620
For the purposes of this subdivision, "veteran", "armed forces" [,] and 621
"service in time of war" [and "qualifying condition"] have the same 622
meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act; 623
Sec. 15. Subdivision (22) of section 12-81 of the general statutes is 624
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 625
1, 2021, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 626
2021): 627
(22) Subject to the provisions of sections 12-89, 12-90 and 12-95, 628
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LCO No. 5436 21 of 53
property to the amount of one thousand dollars belonging to, or held in 629
trust for, any surviving spouse while such person remains a widow or 630
widower, or a minor child or both, residing in this state, of [(A)] one 631
who has served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air 632
Force of the United States, or any citizen of the United States who served 633
in the military or naval service of a government allied or associated with 634
the United States, as provided by subdivision (19) of this section, and 635
who has died either during his or her term of service or after [receiving 636
an honorable discharge therefrom,] becoming a veteran, as defined in 637
section 27-103, as amended by this act, provided such amount shall be 638
three thousand dollars if death was due to service and occurred while 639
on active duty; [, or (B) one with a qualifying condition, as defined in 640
section 27-103, who has served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast 641
Guard or Air Force of the United States and who has died after receiving 642
a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable therefrom;] 643
Sec. 16. Subdivision (25) of section 12-81 of the general statutes is 644
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 645
1, 2021, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 646
2021): 647
(25) Subject to the provisions of sections 12-89, 12-90 and 12-95, 648
property to the amount of one thousand dollars belonging to, or held in 649
trust for, a sole surviving parent, while such parent remains a widow or 650
widower, resident of this state, of one [(A)] who has left no widow or 651
widower, or whose widow or widower has remarried or died, and who 652
has served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force 653
of the United States as provided by subdivision (19) of this section and 654
has died during his or her term of service or after [receiving an 655
honorable discharge therefrom,] becoming a veteran, as defined in 656
section 27-103, as amended by this act, provided property belonging to, 657
or held in trust for, such parent of more than one serviceman or 658
servicewoman who has left no widow or widower, or whose widow or 659
widower has remarried or died, and who has served in the Army, Navy, 660
Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force of the United States as 661
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LCO No. 5436 22 of 53
provided in subdivision (19) of this section and has died during his or 662
her term of service shall be subject to an exemption of one thousand 663
dollars for each such serviceman or servicewoman; [, or (B) with a 664
qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has left no 665
widow or widower, or whose widow or widower has remarried or died, 666
and who has served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or 667
Air Force of the United States and has died after receiving a discharge 668
other than bad conduct or dishonorable therefrom;] 669
Sec. 17. Subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 12-81jj of the 670
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 671
thereof (Effective October 1, 2021, and applicable to assessment years 672
commencing on or after October 1, 2021): 673
(2) Any such veteran submitting a claim for such exemption shall be 674
required to file an application, on a form prepared for such purpose by 675
the assessor, not later than the assessment date with respect to which 676
such exemption is claimed, which application shall include (A) a 677
certified copy of such veteran's military discharge document, as defined 678
in section 1-219, or (B) in the absence of such certified copy, at least two 679
affidavits of disinterested persons showing that the claimant [was 680
honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 681
from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103,] is 682
a veteran as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, provided 683
the assessor may further require such claimant to be examined by such 684
assessor under oath concerning such facts. Each such application shall 685
include a copy of such veteran's federal income tax return, or in the 686
event such a return is not filed such evidence related to income as may 687
be required by the assessor, for the tax year of such veteran ending 688
immediately prior to the assessment date with respect to which such 689
exemption is claimed. Such town clerk shall record each such affidavit 690
in full and shall list the name of such veteran, and such service shall be 691
performed by such town clerk without remuneration. No assessor, 692
board of assessment appeals or other official shall allow any such claim 693
for exemption unless evidence as specified in this section has been filed 694
Committee Bill No. 5592
LCO No. 5436 23 of 53
in the office of such town clerk. Any such veteran who has filed for such 695
exemption and received approval for the first time shall be required to 696
file for such exemption biennially thereafter, subject to the provisions of 697
subsection (c) of this section. 698
Sec. 18. Section 12-93 of the general statutes is repealed and the 699
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021, and 700
applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2021): 701
Any person who claims an exemption from taxation under the 702
provisions of section 12-81, as amended by this act, or 12-82 by reason 703
of service in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force 704
of the United States shall give notice to the town clerk of the town in 705
which he resides that he is entitled to such exemption. Any person who 706
has performed such service may establish his right to such exemption 707
by exhibiting to the town clerk an honorable discharge, or a certified 708
copy thereof, from such service or, in the absence of such discharge or 709
copy, by appearing before the assessors for an examination under oath, 710
supported by two affidavits of disinterested persons, showing that the 711
claimant [so served and received an honorable discharge] is a veteran, 712
as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, or is serving or, if 713
he is unable to appear by reason of such service, he may establish such 714
right, until such time as he appears personally and exhibits his discharge 715
or copy, by forwarding to the town clerk annually a written statement, 716
signed by the commanding officer of his unit, ship or station or by some 717
other appropriate officer, or where such claimant is currently serving in 718
an active theater of war or hostilities, by the presentation of a notarized 719
statement of a parent, guardian, spouse or legal representative of such 720
claimant, stating that he is personally serving and is unable to appear in 721
person by reason of such service, which statement shall be received 722
before the assessment day of the town wherein the exemption is 723
claimed. The assessors shall report to the town clerk all claims so 724
established. Any person claiming exemption by reason of the service of 725
a relative as a soldier, sailor, marine or member of the Coast Guard or 726
Air Force may establish his right thereto by at least two affidavits of 727
Committee Bill No. 5592
LCO No. 5436 24 of 53
disinterested persons showing the service of such relative, his honorable 728
discharge or death in service, and the relationship of the claimant to 729
him; and the assessors may further require such person to be examined 730
by them under oath concerning such facts. The town clerk of the town 731
where the honorable discharge or certified copy thereof and each 732
affidavit is originally presented for record shall record such discharge 733
or certified copy or affidavits thereof in full and shall list the names of 734
such claimants and such service shall be performed by the town clerk 735
without remuneration therefor. Thereafter if any person entitled to such 736
exemption changes his legal residence, the town clerk in the town of 737
former residence and in which such honorable discharge or certified 738
copy thereof or any such affidavit in respect to such person was 739
originally presented for record shall, upon request and payment of a fee 740
by such person to said town of former residence in an amount 741
determined by the town treasurer as necessary to cover the cost of such 742
procedure, prepare and mail to the town in which such person resides, 743
a copy of the record of such discharge or certified copy thereof or 744
affidavits, or he may establish his right to such exemption in the town 745
in which he resides by exhibiting to the town clerk thereof the original 746
discharge or a certified copy thereof or such affidavits. Said clerk shall 747
take therefrom sufficient data to satisfy the exemption requirements of 748
the general statutes and shall record the same and shall note the town 749
where the original complete recording of discharge papers was made. 750
No board of assessors or board of assessment appeals or other official 751
shall allow any such claim for exemption unless evidence as herein 752
specified has been filed in the office of the town clerk, provided, if any 753
claim for exemption has been allowed by any board of assessors or 754
board of assessment appeals prior to July 1, 1923, the provisions of this 755
section shall not apply to such claim. Each claim granted prior to July 1, 756
1923, shall be recorded with those presented subsequent thereto, and a 757
list of such names, alphabetically arranged, shall be furnished the 758
assessors by the town clerk. 759
Sec. 19. Subsection (a) of section 12-217pp of the general statutes is 760
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 761
Committee Bill No. 5592
LCO No. 5436 25 of 53
1, 2021): 762
(a) As used in this section: 763
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and 764
Community Development; 765
(2) "Control", with respect to a corporation, means ownership, 766
directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per cent or more of the 767
total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of such 768
corporation entitled to vote. "Control", with respect to a trust, means 769
ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the 770
beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust. The 771
ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a 772
partnership, limited liability company or association or of a beneficial 773
interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for 774
constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the 775
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 776
internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time 777
amended, other than paragraph (3) of said Section 267(c); 778
(3) "Full-time job" means a job in which an employee is required to 779
work at least thirty-five hours per week for not less than forty-eight 780
weeks in a calendar year. "Full-time job" does not include a temporary 781
or seasonal job; 782
(4) "Income year" means, with respect to entities subject to the 783
insurance premiums tax under chapter 207, the corporation business tax 784
under this chapter, the utility companies tax under chapter 212 or the 785
income tax under chapter 229, the income year as determined under 786
each of said chapters, as the case may be; 787
(5) "New employee" means a person who resides in this state and is 788
hired by a taxpayer on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 789
2014, to fill a new job. "New employee" does not include a person who 790
was employed in this state by a related person with respect to a taxpayer 791
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LCO No. 5436 26 of 53
during the prior twelve months; 792
(6) "New job" means a job that did not exist in this state prior to a 793
taxpayer's application to the commissioner for certification under this 794
section for a job expansion tax credit, is filled by a new, qualifying or 795
veteran employee, and (A) is a full-time job, or (B) in the case of a 796
qualifying employee under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (7) of this 797
subsection, is a job in which an employee is required to work at least 798
twenty hours per week for not less than forty-eight weeks in a calendar 799
year; 800
(7) "Qualifying employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 801
hiring by the taxpayer: 802
(A) (i) Is receiving unemployment compensation, or (ii) has 803
exhausted unemployment compensation benefits and has not had an 804
intervening full-time job; or 805
(B) Is (i) receiving vocational rehabilitation services from the 806
Department of Aging and Disability Services, (ii) receiving employment 807
services from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, 808
or (iii) participating in employment opportunities and day services, as 809
defined in section 17a-226, operated or funded by the Department of 810
Developmental Services; 811
(8) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability 812
company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the taxpayer, 813
(B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 814
association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, (C) a corporation, 815
limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by 816
an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 817
association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, or (D) a member of 818
the same controlled group as the taxpayer; 819
(9) "Taxpayer" means a person that (A) has been in business for at 820
least twelve consecutive months prior to the date of the taxpayer's 821
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LCO No. 5436 27 of 53
application to the commissioner for certification under this section for a 822
job expansion tax credit, and (B) is subject to tax under this chapter or 823
chapter 207, 212 or 229; and 824
(10) "Veteran employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 825
hiring by the taxpayer, is (A) a member of [, was honorably discharged 826
from or released under honorable conditions from active service in] the 827
armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, or (B) 828
a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 829
Sec. 20. Subparagraph (D) of subdivision (63) of section 12-412 of the 830
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 831
thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 832
(D) The Department of Revenue Services may issue a farmer tax 833
exemption permit to a farmer, notwithstanding the fact that, in the 834
farmer's immediately preceding taxable year, such farmer's gross 835
income from agricultural production engaged in as a trade or business 836
may have been less than two thousand five hundred dollars, provided 837
(i) such farmer purchased, during such farmer's current or immediately 838
preceding taxable year, an agricultural trade or business from a seller 839
who was issued a farmer tax exemption permit by such department at 840
the time of such purchase and such agricultural production shall be 841
carried on as a trade or business by such purchaser during the period 842
commencing upon the purchase and ending two years after the date of 843
purchase. Such purchaser shall be liable for the tax otherwise imposed, 844
during the period commencing upon such purchase and ending two 845
years after the date of purchase, if such agricultural production is not 846
carried on as a trade or business by such purchaser during the period 847
commencing upon such purchase and ending two years after the date 848
of purchase; or (ii) such farmer is a veteran who has never owned or 849
leased property for the purpose of commercial agricultural production 850
or who has owned or leased property for the purpose of commercial 851
agricultural production for less than two years. Such veteran farmer 852
shall be liable for the tax otherwise imposed, during the period 853
Committee Bill No. 5592
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commencing upon issuance of a farmer tax exemption permit pursuant 854
to this subparagraph and ending two years after the date of such 855
issuance, if such agricultural production is not carried on as a trade or 856
business by such veteran farmer during the period commencing upon 857
such issuance and ending two years after the date of such issuance. As 858
used in this subparagraph, "veteran" [means any person (1) honorably 859
discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active 860
service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or (2) with a 861
qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has received a 862
discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in 863
the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, 864
as amended by this act. 865
Sec. 21. Subsection (a) of section 14-20b of the general statutes is 866
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 867
1, 2021): 868
(a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, at the request of any veteran 869
or member of the armed forces or the surviving spouse of such veteran 870
or member, shall register any motor vehicle owned or leased for a period 871
of at least one year by such person and shall issue a special certificate of 872
registration and a set of number plates for each such motor vehicle, 873
including a special certificate of registration and a set of number plates 874
for any motor vehicle used exclusively for farming purposes by any 875
veteran or member of the armed forces, or the surviving spouse of such 876
veteran or member, who is engaged in agricultural production as a trade 877
or business. The plates shall expire and be renewed as provided in 878
section 14-22. The commissioner shall charge a fee for such plates, which 879
fee shall cover the entire cost of making such plates and shall be in 880
addition to the fee for registration of such motor vehicle. As used in this 881
subsection, ["member of the armed forces" has the same meaning as 882
provided in section 27-103 and "veteran" means any person (1) 883
honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 884
from active service in, the armed forces, or (2) with a qualifying 885
condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has received a discharge 886
Committee Bill No. 5592
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other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed 887
forces.] "veteran" and "armed forces" have the same meanings as 888
provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 889
Sec. 22. Subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of section 14-36 of the general 890
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 891
(Effective October 1, 2021): 892
(3) Before granting a license to any applicant who has not previously 893
held a Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license, or who has not 894
operated a motor vehicle during the preceding two years, the 895
commissioner shall require the applicant to demonstrate personally to 896
the commissioner, a deputy or a motor vehicle inspector or an agent of 897
the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner directs, that the 898
applicant is a proper person to operate motor vehicles of the class for 899
which such applicant has applied, has sufficient knowledge of the 900
mechanism of the motor vehicles to ensure their safe operation by him 901
or her and has satisfactory knowledge of the laws concerning motor 902
vehicles and the rules of the road. The knowledge test of an applicant 903
for a class D motor vehicle operator's license may be administered in 904
such form as the commissioner deems appropriate, including audio, 905
electronic or written testing. Such knowledge test shall be administered 906
in English, Spanish or any language spoken at home by at least one per 907
cent of the state's population, according to statistics prepared by the 908
United States Census Bureau, based on the most recent decennial 909
census. Each such knowledge test shall include a question concerning 910
highway work zone safety and the responsibilities of an operator of a 911
motor vehicle under section 14-212d. Each such knowledge test shall 912
include not less than one question concerning distracted driving, the use 913
of mobile telephones and electronic devices by motor vehicle operators 914
or the responsibilities of motor vehicle operators under section 14-296aa. 915
If any such applicant has held a license from a state, territory or 916
possession of the United States where a similar examination is required, 917
the commissioner may waive part or all of the examination. If any such 918
applicant is (A) a veteran who applies not later than two years after the 919
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date of discharge from the military and who, prior to such discharge, 920
held a military operator's license for motor vehicles of the same class as 921
that for which such applicant has applied, or (B) a member of the armed 922
forces or the National Guard who currently holds a military operator's 923
license for motor vehicles of the same class as that for which such 924
applicant has applied, the commissioner shall waive all of the 925
examination, except in the case of commercial motor vehicle licenses, 926
the commissioner shall only waive the driving skills test for such 927
applicant who meets the conditions set forth in 49 CFR 383.77. For the 928
purposes of this subsection, "veteran" [means any person who was 929
discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 930
active service in the armed forces] and "armed forces" [has] have the 931
same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by 932
this act. When the commissioner is satisfied as to the ability and 933
competency of any applicant, the commissioner may issue to such 934
applicant a license, either unlimited or containing such limitations as the 935
commissioner deems advisable, and specifying the class of motor 936
vehicles which the licensee is eligible to operate. 937
Sec. 23. Subsections (e) and (f) of section 14-36h of the general statutes 938
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 939
October 1, 2021): 940
(e) Any person who is a veteran may submit a request to the 941
Department of Veterans Affairs to have his or her status as a veteran 942
contained on his or her motor vehicle operator's license or identity card. 943
Said department shall, not later than thirty days after receipt of such 944
request, verify whether such person is a veteran and, if so, notify the 945
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of such request and verification. The 946
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall indicate such person's status as a 947
veteran on any motor vehicle operator's license or identity card issued 948
to such person upon original issuance or renewal of a motor vehicle 949
operator's license or identity card or upon issuance of a duplicate motor 950
vehicle operator's license or identity card. 951
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(f) As used in this section: (1) "Full legal name" means the most 952
complete version of the name that appears on a person's certificate of 953
birth, official passport or other document or documents accepted by the 954
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to verify the person's identity, unless 955
the person presents a marriage license or certificate, a certificate of civil 956
union, a divorce decree or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction 957
pertaining to a permanent change of the person's name; and (2) 958
"veteran" [means (A) any person honorably discharged from, or 959
released under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed 960
forces, as defined] has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, 961
as amended by this act, or [(B)] any former member of the armed forces 962
who is entitled to retirement pay under 10 USC Chapter 1223, as 963
amended from time to time, or, but for age, would be so entitled. [, or 964
(C) any person with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, 965
who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 966
from active service in the armed forces.] 967
Sec. 24. Subsection (c) of section 14-50 of the general statutes is 968
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 969
1, 2021): 970
(c) The commissioner shall waive any operator's license or 971
registration fee, including any renewal fee, in the case of any person in 972
the active service of the armed forces of the United States who was a 973
legal resident of Connecticut at the time of his or her induction; and for 974
one licensing period to any person [(1) honorably separated from such 975
service, or (2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, 976
who has separated from such service other than with a bad conduct 977
characterization or dishonorably] who is a veteran, as defined in section 978
27-103, as amended by this act, which person applies for such operator's 979
license or registration within two years following the date of separation 980
and was a legal resident of Connecticut at the time of his or her 981
induction. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance 982
with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection. 983
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Sec. 25. Section 14-254 of the general statutes is repealed and the 984
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 985
"Disabled veteran", as used in this section, means (1) [(A)] any 986
veteran, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, who 987
performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, as 988
amended by this act, and [or (B) any person with a qualifying condition, 989
as defined in said section, who has received a discharge other than bad 990
conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed forces, as 991
defined in said section, and who performed service in time of war, and] 992
(2) (A) one or both of whose legs or arms or parts thereof have been 993
amputated or the use of which has been lost, (B) who is blind, paraplegic 994
or hemiplegic, or (C) who has traumatic brain injury, any such disability 995
described in subdivision (2) of this section being certified as service-996
connected by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The 997
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, upon application of any disabled 998
veteran accompanied by such certificate of United States Department of 999
Veterans Affairs, shall issue without charge a special number plate or 1000
set of plates in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of 1001
section 14-21b to be attached to a passenger motor vehicle owned or 1002
operated by such disabled veteran and an identification card to be used 1003
in connection therewith. The card shall identify the disabled veteran and 1004
the motor vehicle and shall state that such disabled veteran is qualified 1005
to receive the card, that the card, plate or plates shall be returned to the 1006
commissioner if the registration of the motor vehicle is cancelled or 1007
transferred and that the card is for the exclusive use of the disabled 1008
veteran to whom it is issued, is not transferable and will be revoked if 1009
presented by any other person or if any privilege granted under this 1010
section is abused. If not so revoked, the card shall be renewable every 1011
four years at the time of registration of motor vehicles. No penalty shall 1012
be imposed for the overtime parking of any motor vehicle bearing a 1013
number plate issued under this section when it has been so parked by 1014
the disabled veteran to whom the plate and an identification card were 1015
issued or by any person operating such vehicle when accompanied by 1016
such disabled veteran, provided the length of time for which such 1017
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vehicle may remain parked at any one location shall not exceed twenty-1018
four hours. The surviving spouse of a disabled veteran issued such 1019
special registration may retain any such registration and number plates 1020
without charge for his or her lifetime or until such time as he or she 1021
remarries. 1022
Sec. 26. Subsection (a) of section 17b-28i of the general statutes is 1023
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1024
1, 2021): 1025
(a) To the extent permissible by federal law, the Commissioner of 1026
Social Services shall disregard federal Aid and Attendance pension 1027
benefits granted to a veteran or the surviving spouse of such veteran 1028
when determining income eligibility for the state's Medicare savings, 1029
medical assistance and energy assistance programs administered under 1030
section 17b-2. As used in this subsection, "veteran" [means any person 1031
(1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 1032
from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 1033
(2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has 1034
received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 1035
service in the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided in 1036
section 27-103, as amended by this act. 1037
Sec. 27. Section 19a-179 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1038
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1039
(a) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with 1040
chapter 54, concerning (1) the methods and conditions for licensure and 1041
certification of the operations, facilities and equipment enumerated in 1042
section 19a-177, (2) complaint procedures for the public and any 1043
emergency medical service organization, and (3) exemption of members 1044
of the armed forces or the National Guard or veterans with appropriate 1045
military training, including, but not limited to, members of the armed 1046
forces or the National Guard or veterans with a designation by the 1047
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and veterans or 1048
members of the United States Navy and Coast Guard, from training and 1049
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testing requirements for emergency medical technician licensure and 1050
certification. Such regulations shall be in conformity with the policies 1051
and standards established by the commissioner. Such regulations shall 1052
require that, as an express condition of the purchase of any business 1053
holding a primary service area, the purchaser shall agree to abide by any 1054
performance standards to which the purchased business was obligated 1055
pursuant to its agreement with the municipality. 1056
(b) For the purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person who 1057
was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable 1058
from active service in the armed forces] and "armed forces" [has] have 1059
the same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as 1060
amended by this act. 1061
Sec. 28. Subsections (j) and (k) of section 20-206mm of the general 1062
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1063
(Effective October 1, 2021): 1064
(j) The Commissioner of Public Health shall issue an emergency 1065
medical technician certification to an applicant who is a member of the 1066
armed forces or the National Guard or a veteran and who (1) presents 1067
evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that such applicant holds a 1068
current certification as a person entitled to perform similar services 1069
under a different designation by the National Registry of Emergency 1070
Medical Technicians, or (2) satisfies the regulations promulgated 1071
pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 19a-179, as 1072
amended by this act. Such applicant shall be exempt from any written 1073
or practical examination requirement for certification. 1074
(k) For the purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person who 1075
was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable 1076
from active service in the armed forces] and "armed forces" [has] have 1077
the same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as 1078
amended by this act. 1079
Sec. 29. Subsection (a) of section 27-108 of the general statutes is 1080
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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1081
1, 2021): 1082
(a) Any veteran who meets active military, naval or air service 1083
requirements, as described in 38 USC 101, as amended from time to 1084
time, may apply for admission to the Veterans Residential Services 1085
facility or Healthcare Center; and any such veteran who has no adequate 1086
means of support, and who, from disease, wounds or accident, needs 1087
medical or surgical care and treatment or who has become mentally ill, 1088
may be admitted to any hospital and receive necessary food, clothing, 1089
care and treatment therein, at the expense of the state, unless other funds 1090
or means of payment are available. Whenever a person is admitted to a 1091
hospital, such person shall be asked if he or she is a veteran. Before a 1092
hospital submits a bill for services pursuant to this section, such hospital 1093
shall take sufficient steps to determine that no other funds or means of 1094
payment are available to cover the cost of services rendered to the 1095
veteran. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall make available to 1096
hospitals a list of payment options and benefits available to cover 1097
hospital costs of veterans. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any 1098
person (1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable 1099
conditions from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 1100
27-103, or (2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who 1101
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 1102
active service in the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided 1103
in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 1104
Sec. 30. Section 27-109 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1105
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1106
Any hospital, upon request of the commissioner, shall furnish any 1107
veteran, determined by the commissioner to be entitled to admission 1108
thereto, necessary food, clothing, care and treatment therein at the 1109
expense of the state, unless other funds or means of payment are 1110
available, and such veteran shall have preference for admission into 1111
such hospital. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any person (1) 1112
Committee Bill No. 5592
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honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 1113
from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 1114
(2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has 1115
received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 1116
service in the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided in 1117
section 27-103, as amended by this act. 1118
Sec. 31. Section 27-118 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1119
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1120
When any veteran dies, not having sufficient estate to pay the 1121
necessary expenses of the veteran's last sickness and burial, as 1122
determined by the commissioner after consultation with the probate 1123
court for the district in which the veteran resided, the state shall pay the 1124
sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars toward such funeral 1125
expenses, and the burial shall be in some cemetery or plot not used 1126
exclusively for the burial of the pauper dead, and the same amount shall 1127
be paid if the body is cremated, but no amount shall be paid for the 1128
expenses for burial or cremation unless claim therefor is made within 1129
one year from the date of death, except that in cases of death occurring 1130
abroad, such claim may be made within one year after the remains of 1131
such veteran have been interred in this country. No provision of this 1132
section shall prevent the payment of the sum above named for the burial 1133
of any person, otherwise entitled to the same, on account of such burial 1134
being made outside the limits of this state. Upon satisfactory proof by 1135
the person who has paid or provided for the funeral or burial expense 1136
to the commissioner of the identity of the deceased, the time and place 1137
of the deceased's death and burial and the approval thereof by the 1138
commissioner, said sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars shall be 1139
paid by the Comptroller to the person who has paid the funeral or burial 1140
expense or, upon assignment by such person, to the funeral director 1141
who has provided the funeral. Whenever the Comptroller has lawfully 1142
paid any sum toward the expenses of the burial of any deceased veteran 1143
and it afterwards appears that the deceased left any estate, the 1144
Comptroller may present a claim on behalf of the state against the estate 1145
Committee Bill No. 5592
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of such deceased veteran for the sum so paid, and the claim shall be a 1146
preferred claim against such estate and shall be paid to the Treasurer of 1147
the state. The commissioner, upon the advice of the Attorney General, 1148
may make application for administration upon the estate of any such 1149
deceased veteran if no other person authorized by law makes such 1150
application within sixty days after such payment has been made by the 1151
Comptroller. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any person (1) 1152
honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 1153
from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 1154
(2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has 1155
received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 1156
service in the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided in 1157
section 27-103, as amended by this act. 1158
Sec. 32. Subsection (a) of section 27-122b of the general statutes is 1159
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1160
1, 2021): 1161
(a) As used in this section, "veteran" means any person [(1) honorably 1162
discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from, active 1163
service in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or 1164
Coast Guard or any women's auxiliary branch thereof, organized 1165
pursuant to an Act of Congress; (2)] who is a veteran, as defined in 1166
section 27-103, as amended by this act, who (1) has completed at least 1167
twenty years of qualifying service, as described in and computed under 1168
10 USC Chapter 1223, as amended from time to time, in the Connecticut 1169
National Guard; or [(3) who] (2) was killed in action, or who died as a 1170
result of accident or illness sustained while performing active service, in 1171
the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard 1172
or any women's auxiliary branch thereof, organized pursuant to an Act 1173
of Congress, or in the Connecticut National Guard. 1174
Sec. 33. Section 27-125 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1175
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1176
Any veteran who is a citizen of this state and who, through disability 1177
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LCO No. 5436 38 of 53
or other causes incident to service in the armed forces in time of war, is 1178
in need of temporary financial assistance may be provided for by the 1179
commissioner by a method similar to that provided in section 27-82, the 1180
amount and continuance of such assistance to be discretionary with the 1181
commissioner. The widow, widower and each child, parent, brother or 1182
sister of any member of the armed forces, who died while in such active 1183
service, may be assisted by the commissioner if such person or persons 1184
are without sufficient means of support by reason of the death of such 1185
member of the armed forces. In carrying out his or her duties under the 1186
provisions of this section, the commissioner is directed to cooperate 1187
with such federal agencies as may aid in securing prompt and suitable 1188
treatment, care and relief of any such member of the armed forces or his 1189
or her dependents. The records of the agencies of the state shall be 1190
placed at the disposal of the commissioner and such agencies are 1191
directed to cooperate with and to assist the commissioner in carrying 1192
out his or her duties. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any 1193
person (1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable 1194
conditions from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 1195
27-103, or (2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who 1196
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 1197
active service in the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided 1198
in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 1199
Sec. 34. Section 27-140 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1200
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1201
All money so paid to and received by the American Legion shall be 1202
expended by it in furnishing temporary income; subsistence items such 1203
as food, wearing apparel, shelter and related expenses; medical or 1204
surgical aid or care or relief (1) to, or in bearing the funeral expenses of, 1205
soldiers, sailors or marines (A) (i) who performed service in time of war, 1206
as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, in any branch of the 1207
military service of the United States, including the Connecticut National 1208
Guard, or (ii) who were engaged in any of the wars waged by the United 1209
States during said periods in the forces of any government associated 1210
Committee Bill No. 5592
LCO No. 5436 39 of 53
with the United States, (B) [(i)] who [have been honorably discharged 1211
therefrom or honorably released from active service therein, or (ii) with 1212
a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who have received 1213
discharges other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service 1214
therein] are or were veterans, as defined in section 27-103, as amended 1215
by this act, and (C) who were citizens or resident aliens of the state at 1216
the time of entering said armed forces of the United States, including the 1217
Connecticut National Guard, or of any such government, (2) to their 1218
spouses who are living with them, (3) to their widows or widowers who 1219
were living with them at the time of death, or (4) to dependent children 1220
under eighteen years of age, who may be in need of the same. All such 1221
payments shall be made by the American Legion under authority of its 1222
bylaws, which bylaws shall set forth the procedure for proof of 1223
eligibility for such aid, provided payments made for the care and 1224
treatment of any person entitled to the benefits provided for herein, at 1225
any hospital receiving aid from the General Assembly unless special 1226
care and treatment are required, shall be in accordance with the 1227
provisions of section 17b-239, and provided the sum expended for the 1228
care or treatment of such person at any other place than a state-aided 1229
hospital shall in no case exceed the actual cost of supporting such person 1230
at the Healthcare Center in Rocky Hill maintained by the Department of 1231
Veterans Affairs, unless special care and treatment are required, when 1232
such sum as may be determined by the treasurer of such organization 1233
may be paid therefor. Upon the completion of the trust provided for in 1234
section 27-138, the principal fund shall revert to the State Treasury. 1235
Sec. 35. Subsection (b) of section 29-161q of the general statutes is 1236
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1237
1, 2021): 1238
(b) No person hired or otherwise engaged to perform work as a 1239
security officer, as defined in section 29-152u, shall perform the duties 1240
of a security officer prior to being licensed as a security officer by the 1241
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, except as 1242
provided in subsection (h) of this section. Each applicant for a license 1243
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LCO No. 5436 40 of 53
shall complete a minimum of eight hours training in the following areas: 1244
Basic first aid, search and seizure laws and regulations, use of force, 1245
basic criminal justice and public safety issues. The commissioner shall 1246
waive such training for any person who, while serving in the armed 1247
forces or the National Guard, or if such person is a veteran, within two 1248
years of such person's discharge from the armed forces, presents proof 1249
that such person has completed military training that is equivalent to 1250
the training required by this subsection, and, if applicable, such person's 1251
military discharge document or a certified copy thereof. For the 1252
purposes of this subsection, "veteran" [means any person who was 1253
discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 1254
active service in the armed forces,] and "armed forces" [has] have the 1255
same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by 1256
this act, and "military discharge document" has the same meaning as 1257
provided in section 1-219. The training shall be approved by the 1258
commissioner in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to 1259
section 29-161x. The commissioner may not grant a license to any person 1260
who has been decertified as a police officer or otherwise had his or her 1261
certification canceled, revoked or refused renewal pursuant to 1262
subsection (c) of section 7-294d. 1263
(1) On and after October 1, 2008, no person or employee of an 1264
association, corporation or partnership shall conduct such training 1265
without the approval of the commissioner except as provided in 1266
subdivision (2) of this subsection. Application for such approval shall 1267
be submitted on forms prescribed by the commissioner and 1268
accompanied by a fee of forty dollars. Such application shall be made 1269
under oath and shall contain the applicant's name, address, date and 1270
place of birth, employment for the previous five years, education or 1271
training in the subjects required to be taught under this subsection, any 1272
convictions for violations of the law and such other information as the 1273
commissioner may require by regulation adopted pursuant to section 1274
29-161x to properly investigate the character, competency and integrity 1275
of the applicant. No person shall be approved as an instructor for such 1276
training who has been convicted of a felony, a sexual offense or a crime 1277
Committee Bill No. 5592
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of moral turpitude or who has been denied approval as a security 1278
service licensee, a security officer or instructor in the security industry 1279
by any licensing authority, or whose approval has been revoked or 1280
suspended. The term for such approval shall not exceed two years. Not 1281
later than two business days after a change of address, any person 1282
approved as an instructor in accordance with this section shall notify the 1283
commissioner of such change and such notification shall include both 1284
the old and new addresses. 1285
(2) If a security officer training course described in this subsection is 1286
approved by the commissioner on or before September 30, 2008, the 1287
instructor of such course shall have until April 1, 2009, to apply for 1288
approval as an instructor in accordance with subdivision (1) of this 1289
subsection. 1290
(3) Each person approved as an instructor in accordance with this 1291
section may apply for the renewal of such approval on a form approved 1292
by the commissioner, accompanied by a fee of forty dollars. Such form 1293
may require the disclosure of any information necessary for the 1294
commissioner to determine whether the instructor's suitability to serve 1295
as an instructor has changed since the issuance of the prior approval. 1296
The term of such renewed approval shall not exceed two years. 1297
Sec. 36. Subsection (c) of section 31-3w of the general statutes is 1298
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1299
1, 2021): 1300
(c) (1) When contacted by a veteran who is in need of employment or 1301
work force development services, the department shall (A) determine 1302
whether the veteran resides closer to a work force development board 1303
facility with a veterans unit than to a department facility offering such 1304
employment or work force development assistance and, if so, provide 1305
the veteran with contact information for the work force development 1306
board, and (B) provide a veteran who expresses an interest in advanced 1307
manufacturing, as defined in section 31-11ss, as amended by this act, 1308
with information on the Military to Machinists program operated 1309
Committee Bill No. 5592
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pursuant to section 31-11ss, as amended by this act, if such veteran may 1310
be eligible for services from such program. 1311
(2) For purposes of this subsection, "veteran" [means any person (A) 1312
honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 1313
from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 1314
(B) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has 1315
received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 1316
service in the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided in 1317
section 27-103, as amended by this act. 1318
Sec. 37. Section 31-3zz of the general statutes is repealed and the 1319
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1320
The Labor Commissioner shall establish a Special Operations 1321
Resource Network to serve as a clearinghouse for veterans and 1322
members of the armed forces and National Guard who have acquired, 1323
as part of their military training, knowledge, experience or a set of skills 1324
most compatible with certain professional opportunities. The Labor 1325
Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Veterans 1326
Affairs and the Adjutant General, shall develop a database in which 1327
such veterans and members are categorized based on the types of 1328
military training received and cross-referenced against certain 1329
professional opportunities for purposes of pairing any such veteran or 1330
member with any such professional opportunity. Any veteran or 1331
member of the armed forces or National Guard may apply for inclusion 1332
in such database by submitting (1) evidence of the military training 1333
received by such veteran or member describing the particular 1334
knowledge, experience or set of skills acquired, and (2) if such applicant 1335
is a veteran, such veteran's military discharge document or a certified 1336
copy thereof. The Labor Commissioner shall evaluate any such 1337
application, include such veteran or member in such database, and so 1338
categorize such veteran or member as described in this section. The 1339
Labor Commissioner shall update such database weekly and shall 1340
publish such database on the Labor Department's Internet web site. Any 1341
Committee Bill No. 5592
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person interested in hiring any such veteran or member included in 1342
such database shall contact the department through a dedicated 1343
telephone number and the department shall facilitate contact between 1344
such person and such veteran or member. For the purposes of this 1345
section, [(A)] "veteran" [means any person who was discharged or 1346
released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service 1347
in the armed forces, (B)] and "armed forces" [has] have the same 1348
[meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this 1349
act, and [(C)] "military discharge document" has the same meaning as 1350
provided in section 1-219. 1351
Sec. 38. Subsection (a) of section 31-11ss of the general statutes is 1352
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1353
1, 2021): 1354
(a) As used in this section: 1355
(1) "Advanced manufacturing" means a manufacturing process that 1356
makes extensive use of computer, high-precision or information 1357
technologies integrated with a high-performance work force in a 1358
production system capable of furnishing a heterogeneous mix of 1359
products in small or large volumes with either the efficiency of mass 1360
production or the flexibility of custom manufacturing in order to 1361
respond quickly to customer demands. "Advanced manufacturing" 1362
includes newly developed methods to manufacture existing products 1363
and the manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced 1364
technologies; 1365
(2) "Eligible business" means a business that (A) has operations in 1366
Connecticut, (B) has been registered to conduct business for not less than 1367
twelve months, and (C) is in good standing with respect to the payment 1368
of all state and local taxes. "Eligible business" does not include the state 1369
or any political subdivision thereof; 1370
(3) "Private occupational school" has the same meaning as provided 1371
in section 10a-22a; 1372
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(4) "Public institution of higher education" means any of the 1373
institutions of higher education identified in subdivision (2) of section 1374
10a-1; 1375
(5) "Qualifying advanced manufacturing certificate program" means 1376
a for-credit or noncredit sub-baccalaureate advanced manufacturing 1377
certificate program offered by a public institution of higher education 1378
or a private occupational school in which at least seventy-five per cent 1379
of the graduates of such certificate program are employed in a field 1380
related to or requiring such certificate in the year following graduation; 1381
and 1382
(6) "Veteran" [means any person (A) honorably discharged from, or 1383
released under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed 1384
forces, as defined in section 27-103, or (B) with a qualifying condition, 1385
as defined in section 27-103, who has received a discharge other than 1386
bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed forces.] 1387
has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this 1388
act. 1389
Sec. 39. Subsection (a) of section 31-11tt of the general statutes is 1390
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1391
1, 2021): 1392
(a) Not later than October 1, 2019, the work force development board 1393
for the southwest work force development region of the state shall 1394
develop and operate a pilot program to be known as the Veterans 1395
Platform to Employment Program. The program shall provide training 1396
and subsidized employment for veterans who have experienced long-1397
term unemployment in a similar manner to the Platform to Employment 1398
Program currently operated by such board. The pilot program shall 1399
provide veterans in a region served by the program with (1) a 1400
preparatory program that includes services such as skills assessments, 1401
career readiness workshops, employee assistance programs and 1402
coaching, and (2) employment assistance that includes identifying 1403
positions at local employers and providing subsidies to employers that 1404
Committee Bill No. 5592
LCO No. 5436 45 of 53
hire veterans for trial work experiences that may lead to continued 1405
employment. The pilot program may offer additional services to assist 1406
veterans, including personal and family support services and financial 1407
counseling. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any person (A) 1408
honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 1409
from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 1410
(B) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has 1411
received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 1412
service in the armed forces.] has the same meaning as provided in 1413
section 27-103, as amended by this act. 1414
Sec. 40. Section 31-22u of the general statutes is repealed and the 1415
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1416
Any member of the armed forces or National Guard or any veteran, 1417
within two years of such veteran's discharge from the armed forces, may 1418
submit an application for military training evaluation to the Labor 1419
Department program of apprentice training set forth in section 31-22q. 1420
Such application shall include (1) evidence of satisfactory completion of 1421
a program or course of instruction as part of military training that is 1422
equivalent in content and quality to that required for a specific trade in 1423
this state, and (2) if such applicant is a veteran, such veteran's military 1424
discharge document or a certified copy thereof. The Labor 1425
Commissioner shall evaluate any such application and determine 1426
whether the applicant's military training may be substituted for all or 1427
part of the term of an apprenticeship program registered with the Labor 1428
Department for a specific trade. If the commissioner determines that the 1429
applicant's military training is equivalent to the training required for 1430
completion of such apprenticeship program, the commissioner shall 1431
issue such applicant a recommendation for review by the appropriate 1432
examining board established under section 20-331. Presentation of such 1433
recommendation, pursuant to section 20-333, shall allow such applicant 1434
to sit for any licensure examination without participation in an 1435
apprenticeship program. If the commissioner determines that the 1436
applicant's military training is equivalent to part of the training required 1437
Committee Bill No. 5592
LCO No. 5436 46 of 53
for completion of an apprenticeship program, such applicant's hours of 1438
qualified military training, as determined by the commissioner, shall be 1439
deducted from the hours of apprenticeship training required for the 1440
specific trade provided (A) such applicant completes the minimum 1441
number of hours of apprenticeship training required under federal law, 1442
and (B) prior to implementation of this provision, the Labor Department 1443
obtains concurrence with such provision from the federal office of 1444
apprenticeship pursuant to 29 CFR 29.13(b)(9). For the purposes of this 1445
section, [(i)] "veteran" [means any person who was discharged or 1446
released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service 1447
in the armed forces, (ii)] and "armed forces" [has] have the same 1448
[meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this 1449
act, and [(iii)] "military discharge document" has the same meaning as 1450
provided in section 1-219. 1451
Sec. 41. Section 51-49h of the general statutes is repealed and the 1452
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1453
(a) Any judge of the Superior Court, the Appellate Court or the 1454
Supreme Court who first commenced service as a judge prior to January 1455
1, 1981, may elect to receive the retirement salary provided under 1456
subsection (b) of section 51-50. The surviving spouse of a deceased judge 1457
who has made an election under this section shall receive the allowances 1458
provided under subsection (b) of section 51-51. 1459
(b) Any such judge, any family support magistrate or any 1460
compensation commissioner who is a veteran may receive credit for 1461
retirement purposes for military service, if such judge, family support 1462
magistrate or compensation commissioner makes retirement 1463
contributions for each month of military service equal to one-twelfth of 1464
five per cent of his first year's salary as a judge, family support 1465
magistrate or compensation commissioner multiplied by the total 1466
number of months of such military service, except that (1) no retirement 1467
contribution shall be made for service as a prisoner of war, and (2) no 1468
credit shall be allowed for military service to any such judge, family 1469
Committee Bill No. 5592
LCO No. 5436 47 of 53
support magistrate or compensation commissioner who has served less 1470
than ten years as a judge, family support magistrate or compensation 1471
commissioner, nor for more than fifty per cent of such military service 1472
or three years, whichever is less. Service credit for military service for 1473
retirement purposes other than service as a prisoner of war shall not be 1474
granted until payment of contributions is completed. Any application 1475
for military service credit under this section for service as a prisoner of 1476
war shall be accompanied by sufficient proof from the United States 1477
Department of Veterans Affairs that such judge, family support 1478
magistrate or compensation commissioner is a former prisoner of war. 1479
(c) For purposes of this section: (1) "Armed forces" means the United 1480
States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force; (2) 1481
"veteran" [means any person honorably discharged from, or released 1482
under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed forces] has 1483
the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act; 1484
(3) "military service" shall be service during World War II, December 7, 1485
1941, to December 31, 1946; the Korean hostilities, June 27, 1950, to 1486
October 27, 1953; and the Vietnam era, January 1, 1964, to July 1, 1975, 1487
and shall include service as a prisoner of war. 1488
Sec. 42. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 54-56e of the general statutes 1489
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 1490
October 1, 2021): 1491
(a) There shall be a pretrial program for accelerated rehabilitation of 1492
persons accused of a crime or crimes or a motor vehicle violation or 1493
violations for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment may be 1494
imposed, which crimes or violations are not of a serious nature. Upon 1495
application by any such person for participation in the program, the 1496
court shall, but only as to the public, order the court file sealed. 1497
(b) The court may, in its discretion, invoke such program on motion 1498
of the defendant or on motion of a state's attorney or prosecuting 1499
attorney with respect to a defendant (1) who, the court believes, will 1500
probably not offend in the future, (2) who has no previous record of 1501
Committee Bill No. 5592
LCO No. 5436 48 of 53
conviction of a crime or of a violation of section 14-196, subsection (c) of 1502
section 14-215, section 14-222a, subsection (a) or subdivision (1) of 1503
subsection (b) of section 14-224, section 14-227a or 14-227m or 1504
subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n, and (3) who 1505
states under oath, in open court or before any person designated by the 1506
clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths, under the penalties of 1507
perjury, (A) that the defendant has never had such program invoked on 1508
the defendant's behalf or that the defendant was charged with a 1509
misdemeanor or a motor vehicle violation for which a term of 1510
imprisonment of one year or less may be imposed and ten or more years 1511
have passed since the date that any charge or charges for which the 1512
program was invoked on the defendant's behalf were dismissed by the 1513
court, or (B) with respect to a defendant who is a veteran, that the 1514
defendant has not had such program invoked in the defendant's behalf 1515
more than once previously, provided the defendant shall agree thereto 1516
and provided notice has been given by the defendant, on a form 1517
prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, to the victim 1518
or victims of such crime or motor vehicle violation, if any, by registered 1519
or certified mail and such victim or victims have an opportunity to be 1520
heard thereon. Any defendant who makes application for participation 1521
in such program shall pay to the court an application fee of thirty-five 1522
dollars. No defendant shall be allowed to participate in the pretrial 1523
program for accelerated rehabilitation more than two times. For the 1524
purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person who was 1525
discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 1526
active service in the armed forces as defined in section 27-103.] has the 1527
same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 1528
Sec. 43. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 54-56i of the general 1529
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1530
(Effective October 1, 2021): 1531
(a) There is established a pretrial drug education and community 1532
service program for persons charged with a violation of section 21a-267, 1533
21a-279 or 21a-279a. The pretrial drug education and community service 1534
Committee Bill No. 5592
LCO No. 5436 49 of 53
program shall include a fifteen-session drug education program and a 1535
substance abuse treatment program of not less than fifteen sessions, and 1536
the performance of community service. 1537
(b) Upon application by any such person for participation in such 1538
program, the court shall, but only as to the public, order the court file 1539
sealed, and such person shall pay to the court of an application fee of 1540
one hundred dollars and a nonrefundable evaluation fee of one hundred 1541
fifty dollars. A person shall be ineligible for participation in such pretrial 1542
drug education and community service program if such person has 1543
twice previously participated in (1) the pretrial drug education program 1544
established under the provisions of this section in effect prior to October 1545
1, 2013, (2) the community service labor program established under 1546
section 53a-39c, (3) the pretrial drug education and community service 1547
program established under this section, or (4) any of such programs, 1548
except that the court may allow a person who has twice previously 1549
participated in such programs to participate in the pretrial drug 1550
education and community service program one additional time, for 1551
good cause shown. The evaluation and application fee imposed under 1552
this subsection shall be credited to the pretrial account established 1553
under section 54-56k. 1554
(c) The court, after consideration of the recommendation of the state's 1555
attorney, assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney in 1556
charge of the case, may, in its discretion, grant such application. If the 1557
court grants such application, the court shall refer such person (1) to the 1558
Court Support Services Division for confirmation of the eligibility of the 1559
applicant, (2) to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction 1560
Services for evaluation and determination of an appropriate drug 1561
education or substance abuse treatment program for the first or second 1562
time such application is granted, and (3) to a state-licensed substance 1563
abuse treatment program for evaluation and determination of an 1564
appropriate substance abuse treatment program for the third time such 1565
application is granted, except that, if such person is a veteran, the court 1566
may refer such person to the Department of Veterans Affairs or the 1567
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LCO No. 5436 50 of 53
United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as applicable, for any 1568
such evaluation and determination. For the purposes of this subsection 1569
and subsection (d) of this section, "veteran" [means any person who was 1570
discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 1571
active service in the armed forces as defined in section 27-103.] has the 1572
same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 1573
Sec. 44. Subsection (a) of section 54-56l of the general statutes is 1574
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1575
1, 2021): 1576
(a) There shall be a supervised diversionary program for persons 1577
with psychiatric disabilities, or persons who are veterans, who are 1578
accused of a crime or crimes or a motor vehicle violation or violations 1579
for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment may be imposed, which 1580
crimes or violations are not of a serious nature. For the purposes of this 1581
section, (1) "psychiatric disability" means a mental or emotional 1582
condition, other than solely substance abuse, that (A) has substantial 1583
adverse effects on the defendant's ability to function, and (B) requires 1584
care and treatment, and (2) "veteran" means a [person] veteran, as 1585
defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, who is found, 1586
pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, to have a mental health 1587
condition that is amenable to treatment. [, and who was discharged or 1588
released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service 1589
in the armed forces as defined in section 27-103.] 1590
Sec. 45. Section 54-56n of the general statutes is repealed and the 1591
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1592
(a) The Judicial Branch shall collect data on the number of members 1593
of the armed forces, veterans and nonveterans who, on and after 1594
January 1, 2016, apply for and are granted admission or are denied entry 1595
into (1) the pretrial program for accelerated rehabilitation established 1596
pursuant to section 54-56e, (2) the supervised diversionary program 1597
established pursuant to section 54-56l, or (3) the pretrial drug education 1598
and community service program established pursuant to section 54-56i. 1599
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LCO No. 5436 51 of 53
Data compiled pursuant to this section shall be based on information 1600
provided by applicants at the time of application to any such program. 1601
For the purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person who was 1602
discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 1603
active service in the armed forces] and "armed forces" [has] have the 1604
same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by 1605
this act. 1606
(b) Not later than January 15, 2017, and annually thereafter, the 1607
Judicial Branch shall submit a report detailing the data compiled for the 1608
previous calendar year pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the 1609
joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance 1610
of matters relating to veterans' and military affairs and the judiciary, in 1611
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. 1612
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2021 27-103
Sec. 2 October 1, 2021 4-61bb(a)
Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 4a-59(c)
Sec. 4 October 1, 2021 5-196(28)
Sec. 5 October 1, 2021 7-294d(b)
Sec. 6 October 1, 2021 8-75
Sec. 7 October 1, 2021 10-5(a) to (c)
Sec. 8 October 1, 2021 10-221a(i)
Sec. 9 October 1, 2021 10a-77(d)
Sec. 10 October 1, 2021 10a-99(d)
Sec. 11 October 1, 2021 10a-105(e)
Sec. 12 October 1, 2021 10a-149d(a)
Sec. 13 October 1, 2021 10a-161d(a)
Sec. 14 October 1, 2021, and
applicable to assessment
years commencing on or
after October 1, 2021
12-81(19)
Sec. 15 October 1, 2021, and
applicable to assessment
years commencing on or
after October 1, 2021
12-81(22)
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LCO No. 5436 52 of 53
Sec. 16 October 1, 2021, and
applicable to assessment
years commencing on or
after October 1, 2021
12-81(25)
Sec. 17 October 1, 2021, and
applicable to assessment
years commencing on or
after October 1, 2021
12-81jj(b)(2)
Sec. 18 October 1, 2021, and
applicable to assessment
years commencing on or
after October 1, 2021
12-93
Sec. 19 October 1, 2021 12-217pp(a)
Sec. 20 October 1, 2021 12-412(63)(D)
Sec. 21 October 1, 2021 14-20b(a)
Sec. 22 October 1, 2021 14-36(e)(3)
Sec. 23 October 1, 2021 14-36h(e) and (f)
Sec. 24 October 1, 2021 14-50(c)
Sec. 25 October 1, 2021 14-254
Sec. 26 October 1, 2021 17b-28i(a)
Sec. 27 October 1, 2021 19a-179
Sec. 28 October 1, 2021 20-206mm(j) and (k)
Sec. 29 October 1, 2021 27-108(a)
Sec. 30 October 1, 2021 27-109
Sec. 31 October 1, 2021 27-118
Sec. 32 October 1, 2021 27-122b(a)
Sec. 33 October 1, 2021 27-125
Sec. 34 October 1, 2021 27-140
Sec. 35 October 1, 2021 29-161q(b)
Sec. 36 October 1, 2021 31-3w(c)
Sec. 37 October 1, 2021 31-3zz
Sec. 38 October 1, 2021 31-11ss(a)
Sec. 39 October 1, 2021 31-11tt(a)
Sec. 40 October 1, 2021 31-22u
Sec. 41 October 1, 2021 51-49h
Sec. 42 October 1, 2021 54-56e(a) and (b)
Sec. 43 October 1, 2021 54-56i(a) to (c)
Sec. 44 October 1, 2021 54-56l(a)
Sec. 45 October 1, 2021 54-56n
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LCO No. 5436 53 of 53
Statement of Purpose:
To redefine "veteran" and to establish a Qualified Condition Review
Board.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]
Co-Sponsors: REP. ALLIE-BRENNAN, 2nd Dist.; REP. CURREY, 11th Dist.
SEN. KASSER, 36th Dist.; REP. BLUMENTHAL, 147th Dist.
REP. PALM, 36th Dist.; REP. WINKLER, 56th Dist.
REP. HENNESSY, 127th Dist.
H.B. 5592