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.
As Amended by House "A" (LCO 8049)
House Calendar No.: 209
Primary Analyst: LD 5/6/21
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
determination that sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender
expression was more likely than not the sole reason for the discharge. 2021HB-05592-R01-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 4
It is estimated that this bill would affect approximately 200
1
people
regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
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.
Wartime Benefits:
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-R01-FN.DOCX Page 3 of 4
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 toward his or her funeral expenses. 2021HB-05592-R01-FN.DOCX Page 4 of 4
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.
House "A" reduces the cost in the underlying bill by removing the
provision of benefits for veterans related to mental health conditions.
The extent of the reduction is unknown as it is unknown how many
people would qualify under a mental health condition.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation.