OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-5592
AN ACT REDEFINING "VETERAN" AND ESTABLISHING A
QUALIFIED CONDITION REVIEW BOARD.
Primary Analyst: LD 4/1/21
Contributing Analyst(s):
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 22 $ FY 23 $
Resources of the General Fund GF - Potential
Revenue Loss
See Below See Below
Resources of the Special
Transportation Fund
TF - Potential
Revenue Loss
See Below See Below
Various State Agencies GF - Potential
Cost
See Below See Below
Note: GF=General Fund; TF=Transportation Fund
Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 22 $ FY 23 $
Various Municipalities Potential
Revenue
Loss
See Below See Below
Explanation
This bill expands the eligibility of veterans' benefits and establishes
a Qualified Condition Review Board. It results in costs to multiple
agencies and revenue loss to the General Fund and multiple
municipalities.
The bill expands veterans' benefits to those who were discharged
under conditions other than honorable where a mental health
condition or determination that sexual orientation, gender identity, or
gender expression was more likely than not the sole reason for the 2021HB-05592-R000255-FN.docx Page 2 of 4
discharge. It is estimated that this bill would affect approximately 200
1
people regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender
expression, and it is unknown how many veterans would be affected
regarding being diagnosed with a mental health condition. The
population utilization rate of these benefits is unknown.
Section 1 requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish a
Qualified Condition Review Board which results in no fiscal impact to
the agency because members of the board shall serve without
compensation.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of wartime and non-wartime benefits
with a fiscal impact that this population could be eligible for
2
:
Non-Wartime Benefits:
Veterans' Small Business : The Department of
Administrative Services (DAS) provides certain veteran-
owned businesses with up to a 15% price preference for
certain open market orders and contracts.
High School Diploma: The exam fee for high school
diplomas is waived for veterans.
Veterans' Agriculture Program: This program gives a tax
incentive to encourage certain veterans to start a farming
business. The average incentive provided for a start-up
farmer is less than $1,500.
Certain Veteran Benefits Not Included in Public Assistance
Program Eligibility Requirements: The Department of Social
Services (DSS) commissioner disregards a veteran's or
surviving spouse's federal Aid and Attendance pension
benefits when calculating income for certain assistance
programs.
1
Source: Department of Veterans Affairs
2
All veterans are eligible for non-wartime benefits but additional requirements must
be met for wartime benefits. 2021HB-05592-R000255-FN.docx Page 3 of 4
Wartime Benefits:
Retirement Credit: Special service credit for members of the
Municipal Employees' Retirement System for those who leave
employment to enter the armed forces and then return to
employment within six months of discharge. Also, state workers in
hazardous duty service who were granted military leave and
returned within 90 days of discharge receive retirement credit for
the period of their wartime service.
Tuition Waivers: State public colleges and universities except for
Charter Oak State College waive tuition for wartime veterans who
are accepted into the institution and live in the state.
Property Tax Exemptions: State law provides a minimum $1,500 in
municipal property tax exemptions. Municipalities also have the
option to exempt $20,000 or 10% of the property's assessed value in
addition to the veterans' exemptions.
Motor Vehicle Registration Fee Exemptions: The law authorizes
free motor vehicle registration if a wartime veteran is disabled, a
former prisoner of war, or a recipient of the Congressional Medal of
Honor.
Disabled Veterans License Plates: The commissioner of the
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will issue free number plates
to a disabled veteran. These plates exempt the veteran from
overtime parking fines provided they don't leave their vehicle in the
same spot for 24 hours.
Admission to the Veterans Healthcare Center: Wartime veterans
are eligible for admission to the Veterans Healthcare Center. They
are also eligible for admission to certain hospitals at state expense
unless other funds are available.
Burial Expenses: If a wartime veteran dies without enough money
to pay for burial expenses as determined by the commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the state must pay $1,800 2021HB-05592-R000255-FN.docx Page 4 of 4
toward his or her funeral expenses.
Commissioner's Temporary Assistance: Wartime veterans with a
disability or other service-related cause are eligible for temporary
financial assistance from the Commissioner of DVA in an amount
and for the time he decides.
Soldiers', Sailors' and Marines' Fund (SSMF): Provides temporary
aid to needy wartime veterans and their spouses and dependent
veterans.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation.
Sources: Department of Veterans' Affairs