Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00918 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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6	6	LCO No. 3667 1 of 41
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8	8	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 918
9	9	January Session, 2021
10	10	LCO No. 3667
11	11
12	12
13	13	Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AFFAIRS
14	14
15	15
16	16	Introduced by:
17	17	(VA)
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22	22	AN ACT CONCERNING TH E DEFINITION OF VETERAN.
23	23	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
24	24	Assembly convened:
25	25
26	26	Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 27-103 of the general statutes is 1
27	27	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
28	28	1, 2021): 3
29	29	(a) As used in the general statutes, except chapter 504, and except as 4
30	30	otherwise provided: (1) "Armed forces" means the United States Army, 5
31	31	Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force and any reserve 6
32	32	component thereof, including the Connecticut National Guard 7
33	33	performing duty as provided in Title 32 of the United States Code, as 8
34	34	amended from time to time; (2) "veteran" means any person (A) 9
35	35	honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 10
36	36	from active service in, the armed forces, [;] (B) with a qualifying 11
37	37	condition, as defined in this section, who has received a discharge other 12
38	38	than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed 13
39	39	forces, or (C) with an administrative decision from the United States 14
40	40	Department of Veteran Affairs stating the veteran's service is honorable 15
41	41	or honorable for said department's purposes; (3) "service in time of war" 16 Raised Bill No. 918
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43	43
44	44
45	45	LCO No. 3667 2 of 41
46	46
47	47	means service of ninety or more cumulative days during a period of war 17
48	48	unless separated from service earlier because of an injury incurred or 18
49	49	aggravated in the line of duty or a service-connected disability rated by 19
50	50	the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, except that if the 20
51	51	period of war lasted less than ninety days, "service in time of war" 21
52	52	means service for the entire such period of war unless separated because 22
53	53	of any such injury or disability; (4) "period of war" has the same meaning 23
54	54	as provided in 38 USC 101, as amended from time to time, except that 24
55	55	the "Vietnam Era" means the period beginning on February 28, 1961, and 25
56	56	ending on July 1, 1975, in all cases; and "period of war" shall include 26
57	57	service while engaged in combat or a combat support role in Lebanon, 27
58	58	July 1, 1958, to November 1, 1958, or September 29, 1982, to March 30, 28
59	59	1984; Grenada, October 25, 1983, to December 15, 1983; Operation 29
60	60	Earnest Will, involving the escort of Kuwaiti oil tankers flying the 30
61	61	United States flag in the Persian Gulf, July 24, 1987, to August 1, 1990; 31
62	62	and Panama, December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990, and shall include 32
63	63	service during such periods with the armed forces of any government 33
64	64	associated with the United States; and (5) "qualifying condition" means 34
65	65	a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury 35
66	66	made by, or an experience of military sexual trauma, as described in 38 36
67	67	USC 1720D, as amended from time to time, disclosed to, an individual 37
68	68	licensed to provide health care services at a United States Department 38
69	69	of Veterans Affairs facility. 39
70	70	Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 1-219 of the general statutes is 40
71	71	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 41
72	72	1, 2021): 42
73	73	(a) As used in this section: (1) "Armed forces" means the Army, Navy, 43
74	74	Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force of the United States; (2) 44
75	75	"veteran" [means any person honorably discharged from, or released 45
76	76	under honorable conditions from active service or reserve status in the 46
77	77	armed forces] has the same meaning provided in section 27-103, as 47
78	78	amended by this act; (3) "military discharge document" means a United 48
79	79	States Department of Defense form, including, but not limited to, a DD 49
80	80	214 form, or any valid paper that evidences the service, discharge or 50 Raised Bill No. 918
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82	82
83	83
84	84	LCO No. 3667 3 of 41
85	85
86	86	retirement of a veteran from the armed forces that contains personal 51
87	87	information such as a service number or Social Security number; (4) 52
88	88	"person" means any individual or entity, including, but not limited to, a 53
89	89	relative of a veteran, a licensed funeral director or embalmer, an 54
90	90	attorney-at-law, an attorney-in-fact, an insurance company or a 55
91	91	veterans' advocate; and (5) "public agency" or "agency" means a public 56
92	92	agency, as defined in section 1-200. 57
93	93	Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 4-61bb of the general statutes is 58
94	94	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 59
95	95	1, 2021): 60
96	96	(a) For the purposes of this section, "licensing authority" means the 61
97	97	Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Emergency 62
98	98	Services and Public Protection, the Labor Department, the Department 63
99	99	of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Public Health, the Board of 64
100	100	Regents for Higher Education, the Office of Higher Education, the Board 65
101	101	of Trustees of The University of Connecticut or the Police Officer 66
102	102	Standards and Training Council; "service member" means a member of 67
103	103	the armed forces or the National Guard or a veteran; "armed forces" has 68
104	104	the same meaning as [set forth] provided in section 27-103, as amended 69
105	105	by this act; and "veteran" [means any person who was discharged or 70
106	106	released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service 71
107	107	in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in section 27-72
108	108	103, as amended by this act. 73
109	109	Sec. 4. Subsection (c) of section 4a-59 of the general statutes is 74
110	110	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 75
111	111	1, 2021): 76
112	112	(c) All open market orders or contracts shall be awarded to (1) the 77
113	113	lowest responsible qualified bidder, the qualities of the articles to be 78
114	114	supplied, their conformity with the specifications, their suitability to the 79
115	115	requirements of the state government and the delivery terms being 80
116	116	taken into consideration and, at the discretion of the Commissioner of 81
117	117	Administrative Services, life-cycle costs and trade-in or resale value of 82 Raised Bill No. 918
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119	119
120	120
121	121	LCO No. 3667 4 of 41
122	122
123	123	the articles may be considered where it appears to be in the best interest 83
124	124	of the state, (2) the highest scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid, in 84
125	125	accordance with the criteria set forth in the bid solicitation for the 85
126	126	contract, or (3) the proposer whose proposal is deemed by the awarding 86
127	127	authority to be the most advantageous to the state, in accordance with 87
128	128	the criteria set forth in the request for proposals, including price and 88
129	129	evaluation factors. Notwithstanding any provision of the general 89
130	130	statutes to the contrary, each state agency awarding a contract through 90
131	131	competitive negotiation shall include price as an explicit factor in the 91
132	132	criteria in the request for proposals and for the contract award. In 92
133	133	considering past performance of a bidder for the purpose of 93
134	134	determining the "lowest responsible qualified bidder" or the "highest 94
135	135	scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid", the commissioner shall 95
136	136	evaluate the skill, ability and integrity of the bidder in terms of the 96
137	137	bidder's fulfillment of past contract obligations and the bidder's 97
138	138	experience or lack of experience in delivering supplies, materials, 98
139	139	equipment or contractual services of the size or amount for which bids 99
140	140	have been solicited. In determining the lowest responsible qualified 100
141	141	bidder for the purposes of this section, the commissioner may give a 101
142	142	price preference of up to ten per cent for (A) the purchase of goods made 102
143	143	with recycled materials or the purchase of recyclable or remanufactured 103
144	144	products if the commissioner determines that such preference would 104
145	145	promote recycling or remanufacturing. As used in this subsection, 105
146	146	"recyclable" means able to be collected, separated or otherwise 106
147	147	recovered from the solid waste stream for reuse, or for use in the 107
148	148	manufacture or assembly of another package or product, by means of a 108
149	149	recycling program which is reasonably available to at least seventy-five 109
150	150	per cent of the state's population, "remanufactured" means restored to 110
151	151	its original function and thereby diverted from the solid waste stream 111
152	152	by retaining the bulk of components that have been used at least once 112
153	153	and by replacing consumable components and "remanufacturing" 113
154	154	means any process by which a product is remanufactured; (B) the 114
155	155	purchase of motor vehicles powered by a clean alternative fuel; (C) the 115
156	156	purchase of motor vehicles powered by fuel other than a clean 116
157	157	alternative fuel and conversion equipment to convert such motor 117 Raised Bill No. 918
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159	159
160	160
161	161	LCO No. 3667 5 of 41
162	162
163	163	vehicles allowing the vehicles to be powered by either the exclusive use 118
164	164	of clean alternative fuel or dual use of a clean alternative fuel and a fuel 119
165	165	other than a clean alternative fuel. As used in this subsection, "clean 120
166	166	alternative fuel" means natural gas, electricity, hydrogen or propane 121
167	167	when used as a motor vehicle fuel; or (D) the purchase of goods or 122
168	168	services from a micro business, except that, in the case of a veteran-123
169	169	owned micro business, the commissioner may give a price preference of 124
170	170	up to fifteen per cent. As used in this subsection, "micro business" means 125
171	171	a business with gross revenues not exceeding three million dollars in the 126
172	172	most recently completed fiscal year, "veteran-owned micro business" 127
173	173	means a micro business of which at least fifty-one per cent of the 128
174	174	ownership is held by one or more veterans and "veteran" [means any 129
175	175	person (i) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable 130
176	176	conditions from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 131
177	177	27-103, or (ii) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who 132
178	178	has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 133
179	179	active service in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in 134
180	180	section 27-103, as amended by this act. All other factors being equal, 135
181	181	preference shall be given to supplies, materials and equipment 136
182	182	produced, assembled or manufactured in the state and services 137
183	183	originating and provided in the state. Except with regard to contracts 138
184	184	that may be paid for with United States Department of Transportation 139
185	185	funds, if any such bidder refuses to accept, within ten days, a contract 140
186	186	awarded to such bidder, such contract may be awarded to the next 141
187	187	lowest responsible qualified bidder or the next highest scoring bidder in 142
188	188	a multiple criteria bid, whichever is applicable, and so on until such 143
189	189	contract is awarded and accepted. Except with regard to contracts that 144
190	190	may be paid for with United States Department of Transportation funds, 145
191	191	if any such proposer refuses to accept, within ten days, a contract 146
192	192	awarded to such proposer, such contract shall be awarded to the next 147
193	193	most advantageous proposer, and so on until the contract is awarded 148
194	194	and accepted. There shall be a written evaluation made of each bid. This 149
195	195	evaluation shall identify the vendors and their respective costs and 150
196	196	prices, document the reason why any vendor is deemed to be 151
197	197	nonresponsive and recommend a vendor for award. A contract valued 152 Raised Bill No. 918
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199	199
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201	201	LCO No. 3667 6 of 41
202	202
203	203	at one million dollars or more shall be awarded to a bidder other than 153
204	204	the lowest responsible qualified bidder or the highest scoring bidder in 154
205	205	a multiple criteria bid, whichever is applicable, only with written 155
206	206	approval signed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services and 156
207	207	by the Comptroller. The commissioner shall post on the department's 157
208	208	Internet web site all awards made pursuant to the provisions of this 158
209	209	section. 159
210	210	Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 7-294d of the general statutes is 160
211	211	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 161
212	212	1, 2021): 162
213	213	(b) No person may be employed as a police officer by any law 163
214	214	enforcement unit for a period exceeding one year unless such person 164
215	215	has been certified under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section 165
216	216	or has been granted an extension by the council. No person may serve 166
217	217	as a police officer during any period when such person's certification 167
218	218	has been cancelled or revoked pursuant to the provisions of subsection 168
219	219	(c) of this section. In addition to the requirements of this subsection, the 169
220	220	council may establish other qualifications for the employment of police 170
221	221	officers and require evidence of fulfillment of these qualifications. The 171
222	222	certification of any police officer who is not employed by a law 172
223	223	enforcement unit for a period of time in excess of two years, unless such 173
224	224	officer is on leave of absence, shall be considered lapsed. Upon 174
225	225	reemployment as a police officer, such officer shall apply for 175
226	226	recertification in a manner provided by the council, provided such 176
227	227	recertification process requires the police officer to submit to a urinalysis 177
228	228	drug test that screens for controlled substances, including, but not 178
229	229	limited to, anabolic steroids, and receive a result indicating no presence 179
230	230	of any controlled substance not prescribed for the officer. The council 180
231	231	shall certify any applicant who presents evidence of satisfactory 181
232	232	completion of a program or course of instruction in another state or, if 182
233	233	the applicant is a veteran or a member of the armed forces or the 183
234	234	National Guard, as part of training during service in the armed forces, 184
235	235	that is equivalent in content and quality to that required in this state, 185
236	236	provided such applicant passes an examination or evaluation as 186 Raised Bill No. 918
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238	238
239	239
240	240	LCO No. 3667 7 of 41
241	241
242	242	required by the council. For the purposes of this section, "veteran" 187
243	243	[means any person who was discharged or released under conditions 188
244	244	other than dishonorable from active service in the armed forces] and 189
245	245	"armed forces" [has] have the same [meaning] meanings as provided in 190
246	246	section 27-103, as amended by this act. 191
247	247	Sec. 6. Section 8-75 of the general statutes is repealed and the 192
248	248	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 193
249	249	As among applicants eligible for occupancy at the rent involved 194
250	250	whose needs for housing accommodations are substantially equal, as 195
251	251	determined by the developer, preference shall be given to veterans. As 196
252	252	used in this section, "veteran" [means any person (1) honorably 197
253	253	discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active 198
254	254	service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or (2) with a 199
255	255	qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has received a 200
256	256	discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in 201
257	257	the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of 202
258	258	section 27-103, as amended by this act. 203
259	259	Sec. 7. Subsection (c) of section 10-5 of the general statutes is repealed 204
260	260	and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 205
261	261	(c) No (1) veteran, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this 206
262	262	act, (2) member of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, as 207
263	263	amended by this act, [(3) person with a qualifying condition, as defined 208
264	264	in said section, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 209
265	265	dishonorable from active service in the armed forces,] or [(4)] (3) person 210
266	266	under twenty-one years of age shall be required to pay the fees 211
267	267	described in subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner may waive 212
268	268	any fee described in subsection (b) upon the submission of evidence 213
269	269	indicating an inability to pay. 214
270	270	Sec. 8. Subsection (d) of section 10a-99 of the general statutes is 215
271	271	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 216
272	272	1, 2021): 217 Raised Bill No. 918
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275	275
276	276	LCO No. 3667 8 of 41
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278	278	(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees at the 218
279	279	Connecticut State University System (1) for any dependent child of a 219
280	280	person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be 220
281	281	missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such 221
282	282	armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for 222
283	283	admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time 223
284	284	such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the 224
285	285	provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any [(A)] veteran, as 225
286	286	defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, who performed 226
287	287	service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this 227
288	288	act, [or (B) person with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, 228
289	289	who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 229
290	290	from active service in the armed forces and who performed service in 230
291	291	time of war,] except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time 231
292	292	of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service 232
293	293	academy, which veteran [or person] has been accepted for admission to 233
294	294	such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran 234
295	295	[or person] is accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any 235
296	296	resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been 236
297	297	accepted for admission to such institution, provided (A) such resident 237
298	298	is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular 238
299	299	registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number 239
300	300	of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to 240
301	301	this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to 241
302	302	enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating 242
303	303	all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut Police 243
304	304	Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said 244
305	305	academy offered in coordination with the university which accredits 245
306	306	courses taken in such program, (5) for any active member of the 246
307	307	Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by 247
308	308	the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member 248
309	309	in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for 249
310	310	admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an 250
311	311	undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (6) for any 251
312	312	dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or 252 Raised Bill No. 918
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315	315
316	316	LCO No. 3667 9 of 41
317	317
318	318	supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in 253
319	319	section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 254
320	320	employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 255
321	321	the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state who is a dependent 256
322	322	child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a 257
323	323	resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state 258
324	324	who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of 259
325	325	Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (9) for 260
326	326	any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse 261
327	327	of a person who was killed in action while performing active military 262
328	328	duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 263
329	329	11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state. If any person who receives 264
330	330	a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also 265
331	331	receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver 266
332	332	shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. 267
333	333	Veterans and persons described in subdivision (2) of this subsection and 268
334	334	members of the National Guard described in subdivision (5) of this 269
335	335	subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 270
336	336	tuition waivers in registering for courses at Connecticut state 271
337	337	universities. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used 272
338	338	in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less 273
339	339	than one year. 274
340	340	Sec. 9. Subsection (e) of section 10a-105 of the general statutes is 275
341	341	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 276
342	342	1, 2021): 277
343	343	(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees at 278
344	344	The University of Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person 279
345	345	whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing 280
346	346	in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed 281
347	347	forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission 282
348	348	to The University of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time 283
349	349	such child is accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the 284
350	350	provisions of subsection (f) of this section, for any [(A)] veteran, as 285
351	351	defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, who performed 286 Raised Bill No. 918
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353	353
354	354
355	355	LCO No. 3667 10 of 41
356	356
357	357	service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this 287
358	358	act, [or (B) person with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, 288
359	359	who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 289
360	360	from active service in the armed forces and who performed service in 290
361	361	time of war,] except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time 291
362	362	of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service 292
363	363	academy, which veteran [or person] has been accepted for admission to 293
364	364	said institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran [or 294
365	365	person] is accepted for admission to said institution, (3) for any resident 295
366	366	of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for 296
367	367	admission to said institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in 297
368	368	a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration 298
369	369	period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students 299
370	370	other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this 300
371	371	subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll 301
372	372	and there is space available in such course after accommodating all such 302
373	373	students, (4) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air 303
374	374	National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or 304
375	375	such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the 305
376	376	guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution 306
377	377	on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate 307
378	378	degree-granting program, (5) for any dependent child of a (A) police 308
379	379	officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary 309
380	380	police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of 310
381	381	a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state 311
382	382	employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) for 312
383	383	any resident of the state who is the dependent child or surviving spouse 313
384	384	of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (7) for any 314
385	385	dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a 315
386	386	multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and 316
387	387	Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (8) for any resident of the state 317
388	388	who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was 318
389	389	killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed 319
390	390	forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was 320
391	391	a resident of this state. If any person who receives a tuition waiver in 321 Raised Bill No. 918
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393	393
394	394
395	395	LCO No. 3667 11 of 41
396	396
397	397	accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives 322
398	398	educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be 323
399	399	reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans 324
400	400	and persons described in subdivision (2) of this subsection and members 325
401	401	of the National Guard described in subdivision (4) of this subsection 326
402	402	shall be given the same status as students not receiving tuition waivers 327
403	403	in registering for courses at The University of Connecticut. 328
404	404	Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this 329
405	405	subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less than one 330
406	406	year. 331
407	407	Sec. 10. Subsection (i) of section 10-221a of the general statutes is 332
408	408	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 333
409	409	1, 2021): 334
410	410	(i) (1) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to 335
411	411	a veteran, as defined in [subsection (a) of] section 27-103, as amended 336
412	412	by this act, [or a person with a qualifying condition, as defined in said 337
413	413	section, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 338
414	414	dishonorable from active service in the armed forces,] which veteran [or 339
415	415	person] served during World War II or the Korean hostilities, as 340
416	416	described in section 51-49h, or during the Vietnam Era, as defined in 341
417	417	section 27-103, as amended by this act, withdrew from high school prior 342
418	418	to graduation in order to serve in the armed forces of the United States 343
419	419	and did not receive a diploma as a consequence of such service. 344
420	420	(2) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to 345
421	421	any person who (A) withdrew from high school prior to graduation to 346
422	422	work in a job that assisted the war effort during World War II, December 347
423	423	7, 1941, to December 31, 1946, inclusive, (B) did not receive a diploma as 348
424	424	a consequence of such work, and (C) has been a resident of the state for 349
425	425	at least fifty consecutive years. 350
426	426	Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 10a-149d of the general statutes is 351
427	427	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 352
428	428	1, 2021): 353 Raised Bill No. 918
429	429
430	430
431	431
432	432	LCO No. 3667 12 of 41
433	433
434	434	(a) An institution of higher education shall award college credit for 354
435	435	military occupational specialty training to a member of the armed forces 355
436	436	or the National Guard or a veteran who enrolls at such institution and 356
437	437	has experience in a military occupation recognized by such institution 357
438	438	as substituting for or meeting the requirements of a particular course of 358
439	439	study. For the purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person 359
440	440	who was discharged or released under conditions other than 360
441	441	dishonorable from active service in the armed forces] and "armed 361
442	442	forces" [has] have the same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 362
443	443	27-103, as amended by this act. 363
444	444	Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 10a-161d of the general statutes is 364
445	445	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 365
446	446	1, 2021): 366
447	447	(a) As used in this section: 367
448	448	(1) "Eligible student without legal immigration status" means any 368
449	449	person who (A) is entitled to classification as an in-state student for 369
450	450	tuition purposes pursuant to subdivision (9) of section 10a-29, (B) was 370
451	451	thirty years of age or younger on June 15, 2012, (C) was sixteen years of 371
452	452	age or younger when he or she arrived in the United States and has 372
453	453	continuously resided in the United States since such arrival, and (D) has 373
454	454	not been convicted of a felony in this state or in another state; 374
455	455	(2) "Eligible veteran without legal immigration status" means any 375
456	456	person who (A) is [an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces 376
457	457	of the United States] a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, as amended 377
458	458	by this act, without legal immigration status, (B) was thirty years of age 378
459	459	or younger on June 15, 2012, (C) was fifteen years of age or younger 379
460	460	when he or she arrived in the United States and has continuously 380
461	461	resided in the United States since such arrival, and (D) has not been 381
462	462	convicted of a felony in this state or in another state; 382
463	463	(3) "Institutional financial aid" means funds set aside from the 383
464	464	anticipated tuition revenue of an institution of higher education for the 384
465	465	purposes of providing tuition waivers, tuition remissions, grants for 385 Raised Bill No. 918
466	466
467	467
468	468
469	469	LCO No. 3667 13 of 41
470	470
471	471	educational expenses and student employment for full-time or part-386
472	472	time students who are enrolled in a degree-granting program or a 387
473	473	precollege remedial program and who demonstrate substantial 388
474	474	financial need; and 389
475	475	(4) "Public institution of higher education" means those institutions 390
476	476	of higher education identified in subdivisions (1) and (2) of section 10a-391
477	477	1. 392
478	478	Sec. 13. Subsection (a) of section 12-217pp of the general statutes is 393
479	479	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 394
480	480	1, 2021): 395
481	481	(a) As used in this section: 396
482	482	(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and 397
483	483	Community Development; 398
484	484	(2) "Control", with respect to a corporation, means ownership, 399
485	485	directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per cent or more of the 400
486	486	total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of such 401
487	487	corporation entitled to vote. "Control", with respect to a trust, means 402
488	488	ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the 403
489	489	beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust. The 404
490	490	ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a 405
491	491	partnership, limited liability company or association or of a beneficial 406
492	492	interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for 407
493	493	constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the 408
494	494	Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 409
495	495	internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time 410
496	496	amended, other than paragraph (3) of said Section 267(c); 411
497	497	(3) "Full-time job" means a job in which an employee is required to 412
498	498	work at least thirty-five hours per week for not less than forty-eight 413
499	499	weeks in a calendar year. "Full-time job" does not include a temporary 414
500	500	or seasonal job; 415 Raised Bill No. 918
501	501
502	502
503	503
504	504	LCO No. 3667 14 of 41
505	505
506	506	(4) "Income year" means, with respect to entities subject to the 416
507	507	insurance premiums tax under chapter 207, the corporation business tax 417
508	508	under this chapter, the utility companies tax under chapter 212 or the 418
509	509	income tax under chapter 229, the income year as determined under 419
510	510	each of said chapters, as the case may be; 420
511	511	(5) "New employee" means a person who resides in this state and is 421
512	512	hired by a taxpayer on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 422
513	513	2014, to fill a new job. "New employee" does not include a person who 423
514	514	was employed in this state by a related person with respect to a taxpayer 424
515	515	during the prior twelve months; 425
516	516	(6) "New job" means a job that did not exist in this state prior to a 426
517	517	taxpayer's application to the commissioner for certification under this 427
518	518	section for a job expansion tax credit, is filled by a new, qualifying or 428
519	519	veteran employee, and (A) is a full-time job, or (B) in the case of a 429
520	520	qualifying employee under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (7) of this 430
521	521	subsection, is a job in which an employee is required to work at least 431
522	522	twenty hours per week for not less than forty-eight weeks in a calendar 432
523	523	year; 433
524	524	(7) "Qualifying employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 434
525	525	hiring by the taxpayer: 435
526	526	(A) (i) Is receiving unemployment compensation, or (ii) has 436
527	527	exhausted unemployment compensation benefits and has not had an 437
528	528	intervening full-time job; or 438
529	529	(B) Is (i) receiving vocational rehabilitation services from the 439
530	530	Department of Aging and Disability Services, (ii) receiving employment 440
531	531	services from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, 441
532	532	or (iii) participating in employment opportunities and day services, as 442
533	533	defined in section 17a-226, operated or funded by the Department of 443
534	534	Developmental Services; 444
535	535	(8) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability 445
536	536	company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the taxpayer, 446 Raised Bill No. 918
537	537
538	538
539	539
540	540	LCO No. 3667 15 of 41
541	541
542	542	(B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 447
543	543	association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, (C) a corporation, 448
544	544	limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by 449
545	545	an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 450
546	546	association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, or (D) a member of 451
547	547	the same controlled group as the taxpayer; 452
548	548	(9) "Taxpayer" means a person that (A) has been in business for at 453
549	549	least twelve consecutive months prior to the date of the taxpayer's 454
550	550	application to the commissioner for certification under this section for a 455
551	551	job expansion tax credit, and (B) is subject to tax under this chapter or 456
552	552	chapter 207, 212 or 229; and 457
553	553	(10) "Veteran employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 458
554	554	hiring by the taxpayer, is a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, as 459
555	555	amended by this act, or is a member of [, was honorably discharged from 460
556	556	or released under honorable conditions from active service in] the 461
557	557	armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 462
558	558	Sec. 14. Subparagraph (D) of subdivision (63) of section 12-412 of the 463
559	559	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 464
560	560	thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 465
561	561	(D) The Department of Revenue Services may issue a farmer tax 466
562	562	exemption permit to a farmer, notwithstanding the fact that, in the 467
563	563	farmer's immediately preceding taxable year, such farmer's gross 468
564	564	income from agricultural production engaged in as a trade or business 469
565	565	may have been less than two thousand five hundred dollars, provided 470
566	566	(i) such farmer purchased, during such farmer's current or immediately 471
567	567	preceding taxable year, an agricultural trade or business from a seller 472
568	568	who was issued a farmer tax exemption permit by such department at 473
569	569	the time of such purchase and such agricultural production shall be 474
570	570	carried on as a trade or business by such purchaser during the period 475
571	571	commencing upon the purchase and ending two years after the date of 476
572	572	purchase. Such purchaser shall be liable for the tax otherwise imposed, 477
573	573	during the period commencing upon such purchase and ending two 478 Raised Bill No. 918
574	574
575	575
576	576
577	577	LCO No. 3667 16 of 41
578	578
579	579	years after the date of purchase, if such agricultural production is not 479
580	580	carried on as a trade or business by such purchaser during the period 480
581	581	commencing upon such purchase and ending two years after the date 481
582	582	of purchase; or (ii) such farmer is a veteran who has never owned or 482
583	583	leased property for the purpose of commercial agricultural production 483
584	584	or who has owned or leased property for the purpose of commercial 484
585	585	agricultural production for less than two years. Such veteran farmer 485
586	586	shall be liable for the tax otherwise imposed, during the period 486
587	587	commencing upon issuance of a farmer tax exemption permit pursuant 487
588	588	to this subparagraph and ending two years after the date of such 488
589	589	issuance, if such agricultural production is not carried on as a trade or 489
590	590	business by such veteran farmer during the period commencing upon 490
591	591	such issuance and ending two years after the date of such issuance. As 491
592	592	used in this subparagraph, "veteran" [means any person (1) honorably 492
593	593	discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active 493
594	594	service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or (2) with a 494
595	595	qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has received a 495
596	596	discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in 496
597	597	the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of 497
598	598	section 27-103, as amended by this act. 498
599	599	Sec. 15. Subsection (a) of section 14-20b of the general statutes is 499
600	600	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 500
601	601	1, 2021): 501
602	602	(a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, at the request of any veteran 502
603	603	or member of the armed forces or the surviving spouse of such veteran 503
604	604	or member, shall register any motor vehicle owned or leased for a period 504
605	605	of at least one year by such person and shall issue a special certificate of 505
606	606	registration and a set of number plates for each such motor vehicle, 506
607	607	including a special certificate of registration and a set of number plates 507
608	608	for any motor vehicle used exclusively for farming purposes by any 508
609	609	veteran or member of the armed forces, or the surviving spouse of such 509
610	610	veteran or member, who is engaged in agricultural production as a trade 510
611	611	or business. The plates shall expire and be renewed as provided in 511
612	612	section 14-22. The commissioner shall charge a fee for such plates, which 512 Raised Bill No. 918
613	613
614	614
615	615
616	616	LCO No. 3667 17 of 41
617	617
618	618	fee shall cover the entire cost of making such plates and shall be in 513
619	619	addition to the fee for registration of such motor vehicle. As used in this 514
620	620	subsection, ["member of the armed forces" has the same meaning as 515
621	621	provided in section 27-103] "armed forces" and "veteran" [means any 516
622	622	person (1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable 517
623	623	conditions from active service in, the armed forces, or (2) with a 518
624	624	qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has received a 519
625	625	discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in 520
626	626	the armed forces] have the same meanings as provided in subsection (a) 521
627	627	of section 27-103, as amended by this act. 522
628	628	Sec. 16. Subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of section 14-36 of the general 523
629	629	statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 524
630	630	(Effective October 1, 2021): 525
631	631	(3) Before granting a license to any applicant who has not previously 526
632	632	held a Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license, or who has not 527
633	633	operated a motor vehicle during the preceding two years, the 528
634	634	commissioner shall require the applicant to demonstrate personally to 529
635	635	the commissioner, a deputy or a motor vehicle inspector or an agent of 530
636	636	the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner directs, that the 531
637	637	applicant is a proper person to operate motor vehicles of the class for 532
638	638	which such applicant has applied, has sufficient knowledge of the 533
639	639	mechanism of the motor vehicles to ensure their safe operation by him 534
640	640	or her and has satisfactory knowledge of the laws concerning motor 535
641	641	vehicles and the rules of the road. The knowledge test of an applicant 536
642	642	for a class D motor vehicle operator's license may be administered in 537
643	643	such form as the commissioner deems appropriate, including audio, 538
644	644	electronic or written testing. Such knowledge test shall be administered 539
645	645	in English, Spanish or any language spoken at home by at least one per 540
646	646	cent of the state's population, according to statistics prepared by the 541
647	647	United States Census Bureau, based on the most recent decennial 542
648	648	census. Each such knowledge test shall include a question concerning 543
649	649	highway work zone safety and the responsibilities of an operator of a 544
650	650	motor vehicle under section 14-212d. Each such knowledge test shall 545
651	651	include not less than one question concerning distracted driving, the use 546 Raised Bill No. 918
652	652
653	653
654	654
655	655	LCO No. 3667 18 of 41
656	656
657	657	of mobile telephones and electronic devices by motor vehicle operators 547
658	658	or the responsibilities of motor vehicle operators under section 14-296aa. 548
659	659	If any such applicant has held a license from a state, territory or 549
660	660	possession of the United States where a similar examination is required, 550
661	661	the commissioner may waive part or all of the examination. If any such 551
662	662	applicant is (A) a veteran who applies not later than two years after the 552
663	663	date of discharge from the military and who, prior to such discharge, 553
664	664	held a military operator's license for motor vehicles of the same class as 554
665	665	that for which such applicant has applied, or (B) a member of the armed 555
666	666	forces or the National Guard who currently holds a military operator's 556
667	667	license for motor vehicles of the same class as that for which such 557
668	668	applicant has applied, the commissioner shall waive all of the 558
669	669	examination, except in the case of commercial motor vehicle licenses, 559
670	670	the commissioner shall only waive the driving skills test for such 560
671	671	applicant who meets the conditions set forth in 49 CFR 383.77. For the 561
672	672	purposes of this subsection, "veteran" [means any person who was 562
673	673	discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 563
674	674	active service in the armed forces] and "armed forces" [has] have the 564
675	675	same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by 565
676	676	this act. When the commissioner is satisfied as to the ability and 566
677	677	competency of any applicant, the commissioner may issue to such 567
678	678	applicant a license, either unlimited or containing such limitations as the 568
679	679	commissioner deems advisable, and specifying the class of motor 569
680	680	vehicles which the licensee is eligible to operate. 570
681	681	Sec. 17. Subsections (e) and (f) of section 14-36h of the general statutes 571
682	682	are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 572
683	683	October 1, 2021): 573
684	684	(e) Any person who is a veteran may submit a request to the 574
685	685	Department of Veterans Affairs to have his or her status as a veteran 575
686	686	contained on his or her motor vehicle operator's license or identity card. 576
687	687	Said department shall, not later than thirty days after receipt of such 577
688	688	request, verify whether such person is a veteran and, if so, notify the 578
689	689	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of such request and verification. The 579
690	690	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall indicate such person's status as a 580 Raised Bill No. 918
691	691
692	692
693	693
694	694	LCO No. 3667 19 of 41
695	695
696	696	veteran on any motor vehicle operator's license or identity card issued 581
697	697	to such person upon original issuance or renewal of a motor vehicle 582
698	698	operator's license or identity card or upon issuance of a duplicate motor 583
699	699	vehicle operator's license or identity card. 584
700	700	(f) As used in this section: (1) "Full legal name" means the most 585
701	701	complete version of the name that appears on a person's certificate of 586
702	702	birth, official passport or other document or documents accepted by the 587
703	703	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to verify the person's identity, unless 588
704	704	the person presents a marriage license or certificate, a certificate of civil 589
705	705	union, a divorce decree or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction 590
706	706	pertaining to a permanent change of the person's name; and (2) 591
707	707	"veteran" [means (A) any person honorably discharged from, or 592
708	708	released under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed 593
709	709	forces, as defined in section 27-103,] (A) has the same meaning as 594
710	710	provided in subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by this act, or 595
711	711	(B) means any former member of the armed forces who is entitled to 596
712	712	retirement pay under 10 USC Chapter 1223, as amended from time to 597
713	713	time, or, but for age, would be so entitled. [, or (C) any person with a 598
714	714	qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has received a 599
715	715	discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in 600
716	716	the armed forces.] 601
717	717	Sec. 18. Subsection (c) of section 14-50 of the general statutes is 602
718	718	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 603
719	719	1, 2021): 604
720	720	(c) The commissioner shall waive any operator's license or 605
721	721	registration fee, including any renewal fee, in the case of any person in 606
722	722	the active service of the armed forces of the United States who was a 607
723	723	legal resident of Connecticut at the time of his or her induction; and for 608
724	724	one licensing period to any [person (1) honorably separated from such 609
725	725	service, or (2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, 610
726	726	who has separated from such service other than with a bad conduct 611
727	727	characterization or dishonorably] veteran, as defined in section 27-103, 612
728	728	as amended by this act, which [person] veteran applies for such 613 Raised Bill No. 918
729	729
730	730
731	731
732	732	LCO No. 3667 20 of 41
733	733
734	734	operator's license or registration within two years following the date of 614
735	735	separation and was a legal resident of Connecticut at the time of his or 615
736	736	her induction. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance 616
737	737	with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection. 617
738	738	Sec. 19. Section 14-254 of the general statutes is repealed and the 618
739	739	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 619
740	740	"Disabled veteran", as used in this section, means (1) [(A)] any veteran 620
741	741	as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by this act, 621
742	742	who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, as 622
743	743	amended by this act, [or (B) any person with a qualifying condition, as 623
744	744	defined in said section, who has received a discharge other than bad 624
745	745	conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed forces, as 625
746	746	defined in said section, and who performed service in time of war,] and 626
747	747	(2) (A) one or both of whose legs or arms or parts thereof have been 627
748	748	amputated or the use of which has been lost, (B) who is blind, paraplegic 628
749	749	or hemiplegic, or (C) who has traumatic brain injury, any such disability 629
750	750	described in subdivision (2) of this section being certified as service-630
751	751	connected by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The 631
752	752	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, upon application of any disabled 632
753	753	veteran accompanied by such certificate of United States Department of 633
754	754	Veterans Affairs, shall issue without charge a special number plate or 634
755	755	set of plates in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of 635
756	756	section 14-21b to be attached to a passenger motor vehicle owned or 636
757	757	operated by such disabled veteran and an identification card to be used 637
758	758	in connection therewith. The card shall identify the disabled veteran and 638
759	759	the motor vehicle and shall state that such disabled veteran is qualified 639
760	760	to receive the card, that the card, plate or plates shall be returned to the 640
761	761	commissioner if the registration of the motor vehicle is cancelled or 641
762	762	transferred and that the card is for the exclusive use of the disabled 642
763	763	veteran to whom it is issued, is not transferable and will be revoked if 643
764	764	presented by any other person or if any privilege granted under this 644
765	765	section is abused. If not so revoked, the card shall be renewable every 645
766	766	four years at the time of registration of motor vehicles. No penalty shall 646
767	767	be imposed for the overtime parking of any motor vehicle bearing a 647 Raised Bill No. 918
768	768
769	769
770	770
771	771	LCO No. 3667 21 of 41
772	772
773	773	number plate issued under this section when it has been so parked by 648
774	774	the disabled veteran to whom the plate and an identification card were 649
775	775	issued or by any person operating such vehicle when accompanied by 650
776	776	such disabled veteran, provided the length of time for which such 651
777	777	vehicle may remain parked at any one location shall not exceed twenty-652
778	778	four hours. The surviving spouse of a disabled veteran issued such 653
779	779	special registration may retain any such registration and number plates 654
780	780	without charge for his or her lifetime or until such time as he or she 655
781	781	remarries. 656
782	782	Sec. 20. Subsection (a) of section 17b-28i of the general statutes is 657
783	783	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 658
784	784	1, 2021): 659
785	785	(a) To the extent permissible by federal law, the Commissioner of 660
786	786	Social Services shall disregard federal Aid and Attendance pension 661
787	787	benefits granted to a veteran or the surviving spouse of such veteran 662
788	788	when determining income eligibility for the state's Medicare savings, 663
789	789	medical assistance and energy assistance programs administered under 664
790	790	section 17b-2. As used in this subsection, "veteran" [means any person 665
791	791	(1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 666
792	792	from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 667
793	793	(2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has 668
794	794	received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 669
795	795	service in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in 670
796	796	subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by this act. 671
797	797	Sec. 21. Section 19a-179 of the general statutes is repealed and the 672
798	798	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 673
799	799	(a) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with 674
800	800	chapter 54, concerning (1) the methods and conditions for licensure and 675
801	801	certification of the operations, facilities and equipment enumerated in 676
802	802	section 19a-177, (2) complaint procedures for the public and any 677
803	803	emergency medical service organization, and (3) exemption of members 678
804	804	of the armed forces or the National Guard or veterans with appropriate 679 Raised Bill No. 918
805	805
806	806
807	807
808	808	LCO No. 3667 22 of 41
809	809
810	810	military training, including, but not limited to, members of the armed 680
811	811	forces or the National Guard or veterans with a designation by the 681
812	812	National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and veterans or 682
813	813	members of the United States Navy and Coast Guard, from training and 683
814	814	testing requirements for emergency medical technician licensure and 684
815	815	certification. Such regulations shall be in conformity with the policies 685
816	816	and standards established by the commissioner. Such regulations shall 686
817	817	require that, as an express condition of the purchase of any business 687
818	818	holding a primary service area, the purchaser shall agree to abide by any 688
819	819	performance standards to which the purchased business was obligated 689
820	820	pursuant to its agreement with the municipality. 690
821	821	(b) For the purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person who 691
822	822	was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable 692
823	823	from active service in the armed forces] and "armed forces" [has] have 693
824	824	the same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as 694
825	825	amended by this act. 695
826	826	Sec. 22. Subsections (j) and (k) of section 20-206mm of the general 696
827	827	statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 697
828	828	(Effective October 1, 2021): 698
829	829	(j) The Commissioner of Public Health shall issue an emergency 699
830	830	medical technician certification to an applicant who is a member of the 700
831	831	armed forces or the National Guard or a veteran and who (1) presents 701
832	832	evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that such applicant holds a 702
833	833	current certification as a person entitled to perform similar services 703
834	834	under a different designation by the National Registry of Emergency 704
835	835	Medical Technicians, or (2) satisfies the regulations promulgated 705
836	836	pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 19a-179, as 706
837	837	amended by this act. Such applicant shall be exempt from any written 707
838	838	or practical examination requirement for certification. 708
839	839	(k) For the purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person who 709
840	840	was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable 710
841	841	from active service in the armed forces] and "armed forces" [has] have 711 Raised Bill No. 918
842	842
843	843
844	844
845	845	LCO No. 3667 23 of 41
846	846
847	847	the same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as 712
848	848	amended by this act. 713
849	849	Sec. 23. Section 27-100g of the general statutes is repealed and the 714
850	850	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 715
851	851	The Department of Veterans Affairs shall establish, within available 716
852	852	resources, a Connecticut women veterans' program to (1) conduct 717
853	853	outreach to women veterans for the purpose of improving awareness of 718
854	854	eligibility for federal and state veterans' benefits and services; (2) 719
855	855	conduct assessments of the needs of women veterans with respect to 720
856	856	benefits and services; (3) review programs, research projects and other 721
857	857	initiatives designed to address or meet the needs of Connecticut's 722
858	858	women veterans; (4) submit recommendations for improving benefits 723
859	859	and services available to women veterans to the Commissioner of 724
860	860	Veterans Affairs and, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, 725
861	861	to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 726
862	862	cognizance of matters relating to military and veterans' affairs on 727
863	863	January 15, 2016, and annually thereafter; and (5) incorporate women 728
864	864	veterans' issues in strategic planning concerning benefits and services. 729
865	865	The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 730
866	866	to supplement and implement the provisions of this section. For the 731
867	867	purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person who was 732
868	868	discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 733
869	869	active service in the armed forces] and "armed forces" [has] have the 734
870	870	same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by 735
871	871	this act. 736
872	872	Sec. 24. Subsection (a) of section 27-108 of the general statutes is 737
873	873	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 738
874	874	1, 2021): 739
875	875	(a) Any veteran who meets active military, naval or air service 740
876	876	requirements, as described in 38 USC 101, as amended from time to 741
877	877	time, may apply for admission to the Veterans Residential Services 742
878	878	facility or Healthcare Center; and any such veteran who has no adequate 743 Raised Bill No. 918
879	879
880	880
881	881
882	882	LCO No. 3667 24 of 41
883	883
884	884	means of support, and who, from disease, wounds or accident, needs 744
885	885	medical or surgical care and treatment or who has become mentally ill, 745
886	886	may be admitted to any hospital and receive necessary food, clothing, 746
887	887	care and treatment therein, at the expense of the state, unless other funds 747
888	888	or means of payment are available. Whenever a person is admitted to a 748
889	889	hospital, such person shall be asked if he or she is a veteran. Before a 749
890	890	hospital submits a bill for services pursuant to this section, such hospital 750
891	891	shall take sufficient steps to determine that no other funds or means of 751
892	892	payment are available to cover the cost of services rendered to the 752
893	893	veteran. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall make available to 753
894	894	hospitals a list of payment options and benefits available to cover 754
895	895	hospital costs of veterans. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any 755
896	896	person (1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable 756
897	897	conditions from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 757
898	898	27-103, or (2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who 758
899	899	has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 759
900	900	active service in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in 760
901	901	subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by this act. 761
902	902	Sec. 25. Section 27-109 of the general statutes is repealed and the 762
903	903	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 763
904	904	Any hospital, upon request of the commissioner, shall furnish any 764
905	905	veteran, determined by the commissioner to be entitled to admission 765
906	906	thereto, necessary food, clothing, care and treatment therein at the 766
907	907	expense of the state, unless other funds or means of payment are 767
908	908	available, and such veteran shall have preference for admission into 768
909	909	such hospital. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any person (1) 769
910	910	honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 770
911	911	from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 771
912	912	(2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has 772
913	913	received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 773
914	914	service in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in 774
915	915	subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by this act. 775
916	916	Sec. 26. Section 27-118 of the general statutes is repealed and the 776 Raised Bill No. 918
917	917
918	918
919	919
920	920	LCO No. 3667 25 of 41
921	921
922	922	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 777
923	923	When any veteran dies, not having sufficient estate to pay the 778
924	924	necessary expenses of the veteran's last sickness and burial, as 779
925	925	determined by the commissioner after consultation with the probate 780
926	926	court for the district in which the veteran resided, the state shall pay the 781
927	927	sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars toward such funeral 782
928	928	expenses, and the burial shall be in some cemetery or plot not used 783
929	929	exclusively for the burial of the pauper dead, and the same amount shall 784
930	930	be paid if the body is cremated, but no amount shall be paid for the 785
931	931	expenses for burial or cremation unless claim therefor is made within 786
932	932	one year from the date of death, except that in cases of death occurring 787
933	933	abroad, such claim may be made within one year after the remains of 788
934	934	such veteran have been interred in this country. No provision of this 789
935	935	section shall prevent the payment of the sum above named for the burial 790
936	936	of any person, otherwise entitled to the same, on account of such burial 791
937	937	being made outside the limits of this state. Upon satisfactory proof by 792
938	938	the person who has paid or provided for the funeral or burial expense 793
939	939	to the commissioner of the identity of the deceased, the time and place 794
940	940	of the deceased's death and burial and the approval thereof by the 795
941	941	commissioner, said sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars shall be 796
942	942	paid by the Comptroller to the person who has paid the funeral or burial 797
943	943	expense or, upon assignment by such person, to the funeral director 798
944	944	who has provided the funeral. Whenever the Comptroller has lawfully 799
945	945	paid any sum toward the expenses of the burial of any deceased veteran 800
946	946	and it afterwards appears that the deceased left any estate, the 801
947	947	Comptroller may present a claim on behalf of the state against the estate 802
948	948	of such deceased veteran for the sum so paid, and the claim shall be a 803
949	949	preferred claim against such estate and shall be paid to the Treasurer of 804
950	950	the state. The commissioner, upon the advice of the Attorney General, 805
951	951	may make application for administration upon the estate of any such 806
952	952	deceased veteran if no other person authorized by law makes such 807
953	953	application within sixty days after such payment has been made by the 808
954	954	Comptroller. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any person (1) 809
955	955	honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 810 Raised Bill No. 918
956	956
957	957
958	958
959	959	LCO No. 3667 26 of 41
960	960
961	961	from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 811
962	962	(2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has 812
963	963	received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 813
964	964	service in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in 814
965	965	subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by this act. 815
966	966	Sec. 27. Subsection (a) of section 27-122b of the general statutes is 816
967	967	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 817
968	968	1, 2021): 818
969	969	(a) As used in this section, "veteran" means [any person (1) honorably 819
970	970	discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from, active 820
971	971	service in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or 821
972	972	Coast Guard or any women's auxiliary branch thereof, organized 822
973	973	pursuant to an Act of Congress;] (1) a veteran, as defined in section 27-823
974	974	103, as amended by this act; and (2) (A) who has completed at least 824
975	975	twenty years of qualifying service, as described in and computed under 825
976	976	10 USC Chapter 1223, as amended from time to time, in the Connecticut 826
977	977	National Guard, [;] or [(3)] (B) who was killed in action, or who died as 827
978	978	a result of accident or illness sustained while performing active service, 828
979	979	in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast 829
980	980	Guard or any women's auxiliary branch thereof, organized pursuant to 830
981	981	an Act of Congress, or in the Connecticut National Guard. 831
982	982	Sec. 28. Section 27-125 of the general statutes is repealed and the 832
983	983	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 833
984	984	Any veteran who is a citizen of this state and who, through disability 834
985	985	or other causes incident to service in the armed forces in time of war, is 835
986	986	in need of temporary financial assistance may be provided for by the 836
987	987	commissioner by a method similar to that provided in section 27-82, the 837
988	988	amount and continuance of such assistance to be discretionary with the 838
989	989	commissioner. The widow, widower and each child, parent, brother or 839
990	990	sister of any member of the armed forces, who died while in such active 840
991	991	service, may be assisted by the commissioner if such person or persons 841
992	992	are without sufficient means of support by reason of the death of such 842 Raised Bill No. 918
993	993
994	994
995	995
996	996	LCO No. 3667 27 of 41
997	997
998	998	member of the armed forces. In carrying out his or her duties under the 843
999	999	provisions of this section, the commissioner is directed to cooperate 844
1000	1000	with such federal agencies as may aid in securing prompt and suitable 845
1001	1001	treatment, care and relief of any such member of the armed forces or his 846
1002	1002	or her dependents. The records of the agencies of the state shall be 847
1003	1003	placed at the disposal of the commissioner and such agencies are 848
1004	1004	directed to cooperate with and to assist the commissioner in carrying 849
1005	1005	out his or her duties. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any 850
1006	1006	person (1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable 851
1007	1007	conditions from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 852
1008	1008	27-103, or (2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who 853
1009	1009	has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 854
1010	1010	active service in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in 855
1011	1011	subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by this act. 856
1012	1012	Sec. 29. Section 27-140 of the general statutes is repealed and the 857
1013	1013	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 858
1014	1014	All money so paid to and received by the American Legion shall be 859
1015	1015	expended by it in furnishing temporary income; subsistence items such 860
1016	1016	as food, wearing apparel, shelter and related expenses; medical or 861
1017	1017	surgical aid or care or relief (1) to, or in bearing the funeral expenses of, 862
1018	1018	soldiers, sailors or marines (A) (i) who performed service in time of war, 863
1019	1019	as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, in any branch of the 864
1020	1020	military service of the United States, including the Connecticut National 865
1021	1021	Guard, or (ii) who were engaged in any of the wars waged by the United 866
1022	1022	States during said periods in the forces of any government associated 867
1023	1023	with the United States, (B) [(i) who have been honorably discharged 868
1024	1024	therefrom or honorably released from active service therein, or (ii) with 869
1025	1025	a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who have received 870
1026	1026	discharges other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service 871
1027	1027	therein,] who were veterans, as defined in section 27-103, as amended 872
1028	1028	by this act, and (C) who were citizens or resident aliens of the state at 873
1029	1029	the time of entering said armed forces of the United States, including the 874
1030	1030	Connecticut National Guard, or of any such government, (2) to their 875
1031	1031	spouses who are living with them, (3) to their widows or widowers who 876 Raised Bill No. 918
1032	1032
1033	1033
1034	1034
1035	1035	LCO No. 3667 28 of 41
1036	1036
1037	1037	were living with them at the time of death, or (4) to dependent children 877
1038	1038	under eighteen years of age, who may be in need of the same. All such 878
1039	1039	payments shall be made by the American Legion under authority of its 879
1040	1040	bylaws, which bylaws shall set forth the procedure for proof of 880
1041	1041	eligibility for such aid, provided payments made for the care and 881
1042	1042	treatment of any person entitled to the benefits provided for herein, at 882
1043	1043	any hospital receiving aid from the General Assembly unless special 883
1044	1044	care and treatment are required, shall be in accordance with the 884
1045	1045	provisions of section 17b-239, and provided the sum expended for the 885
1046	1046	care or treatment of such person at any other place than a state-aided 886
1047	1047	hospital shall in no case exceed the actual cost of supporting such person 887
1048	1048	at the Healthcare Center in Rocky Hill maintained by the Department of 888
1049	1049	Veterans Affairs, unless special care and treatment are required, when 889
1050	1050	such sum as may be determined by the treasurer of such organization 890
1051	1051	may be paid therefor. Upon the completion of the trust provided for in 891
1052	1052	section 27-138, the principal fund shall revert to the State Treasury. 892
1053	1053	Sec. 30. Subsection (b) of section 29-161q of the general statutes is 893
1054	1054	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 894
1055	1055	1, 2021): 895
1056	1056	(b) No person hired or otherwise engaged to perform work as a 896
1057	1057	security officer, as defined in section 29-152u, shall perform the duties 897
1058	1058	of a security officer prior to being licensed as a security officer by the 898
1059	1059	Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, except as 899
1060	1060	provided in subsection (h) of this section. Each applicant for a license 900
1061	1061	shall complete a minimum of eight hours training in the following areas: 901
1062	1062	Basic first aid, search and seizure laws and regulations, use of force, 902
1063	1063	basic criminal justice and public safety issues. The commissioner shall 903
1064	1064	waive such training for any person who, while serving in the armed 904
1065	1065	forces or the National Guard, or if such person is a veteran, within two 905
1066	1066	years of such person's discharge from the armed forces, presents proof 906
1067	1067	that such person has completed military training that is equivalent to 907
1068	1068	the training required by this subsection, and, if applicable, such person's 908
1069	1069	military discharge document or a certified copy thereof. For the 909
1070	1070	purposes of this subsection, "veteran" [means any person who was 910 Raised Bill No. 918
1071	1071
1072	1072
1073	1073
1074	1074	LCO No. 3667 29 of 41
1075	1075
1076	1076	discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 911
1077	1077	active service in the armed forces,] and "armed forces" [has] have the 912
1078	1078	same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by 913
1079	1079	this act, and "military discharge document" has the same meaning as 914
1080	1080	provided in section 1-219, as amended by this act. The training shall be 915
1081	1081	approved by the commissioner in accordance with regulations adopted 916
1082	1082	pursuant to section 29-161x. The commissioner may not grant a license 917
1083	1083	to any person who has been decertified as a police officer or otherwise 918
1084	1084	had his or her certification canceled, revoked or refused renewal 919
1085	1085	pursuant to subsection (c) of section 7-294d. 920
1086	1086	(1) On and after October 1, 2008, no person or employee of an 921
1087	1087	association, corporation or partnership shall conduct such training 922
1088	1088	without the approval of the commissioner except as provided in 923
1089	1089	subdivision (2) of this subsection. Application for such approval shall 924
1090	1090	be submitted on forms prescribed by the commissioner and 925
1091	1091	accompanied by a fee of forty dollars. Such application shall be made 926
1092	1092	under oath and shall contain the applicant's name, address, date and 927
1093	1093	place of birth, employment for the previous five years, education or 928
1094	1094	training in the subjects required to be taught under this subsection, any 929
1095	1095	convictions for violations of the law and such other information as the 930
1096	1096	commissioner may require by regulation adopted pursuant to section 931
1097	1097	29-161x to properly investigate the character, competency and integrity 932
1098	1098	of the applicant. No person shall be approved as an instructor for such 933
1099	1099	training who has been convicted of a felony, a sexual offense or a crime 934
1100	1100	of moral turpitude or who has been denied approval as a security 935
1101	1101	service licensee, a security officer or instructor in the security industry 936
1102	1102	by any licensing authority, or whose approval has been revoked or 937
1103	1103	suspended. The term for such approval shall not exceed two years. Not 938
1104	1104	later than two business days after a change of address, any person 939
1105	1105	approved as an instructor in accordance with this section shall notify the 940
1106	1106	commissioner of such change and such notification shall include both 941
1107	1107	the old and new addresses. 942
1108	1108	(2) If a security officer training course described in this subsection is 943
1109	1109	approved by the commissioner on or before September 30, 2008, the 944 Raised Bill No. 918
1110	1110
1111	1111
1112	1112
1113	1113	LCO No. 3667 30 of 41
1114	1114
1115	1115	instructor of such course shall have until April 1, 2009, to apply for 945
1116	1116	approval as an instructor in accordance with subdivision (1) of this 946
1117	1117	subsection. 947
1118	1118	(3) Each person approved as an instructor in accordance with this 948
1119	1119	section may apply for the renewal of such approval on a form approved 949
1120	1120	by the commissioner, accompanied by a fee of forty dollars. Such form 950
1121	1121	may require the disclosure of any information necessary for the 951
1122	1122	commissioner to determine whether the instructor's suitability to serve 952
1123	1123	as an instructor has changed since the issuance of the prior approval. 953
1124	1124	The term of such renewed approval shall not exceed two years. 954
1125	1125	Sec. 31. Subsection (c) of section 31-3w of the general statutes is 955
1126	1126	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 956
1127	1127	1, 2021): 957
1128	1128	(c) (1) When contacted by a veteran who is in need of employment or 958
1129	1129	work force development services, the department shall (A) determine 959
1130	1130	whether the veteran resides closer to a work force development board 960
1131	1131	facility with a veterans unit than to a department facility offering such 961
1132	1132	employment or work force development assistance and, if so, provide 962
1133	1133	the veteran with contact information for the work force development 963
1134	1134	board, and (B) provide a veteran who expresses an interest in advanced 964
1135	1135	manufacturing, as defined in section 31-11ss, as amended by this act, 965
1136	1136	with information on the Military to Machinists program operated 966
1137	1137	pursuant to section 31-11ss, as amended by this act, if such veteran may 967
1138	1138	be eligible for services from such program. 968
1139	1139	(2) For purposes of this subsection, "veteran" [means any person (A) 969
1140	1140	honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 970
1141	1141	from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 971
1142	1142	(B) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has 972
1143	1143	received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 973
1144	1144	service in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in 974
1145	1145	subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by this act. 975
1146	1146	Sec. 32. Section 31-3zz of the general statutes is repealed and the 976 Raised Bill No. 918
1147	1147
1148	1148
1149	1149
1150	1150	LCO No. 3667 31 of 41
1151	1151
1152	1152	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 977
1153	1153	The Labor Commissioner shall establish a Special Operations 978
1154	1154	Resource Network to serve as a clearinghouse for veterans and 979
1155	1155	members of the armed forces and National Guard who have acquired, 980
1156	1156	as part of their military training, knowledge, experience or a set of skills 981
1157	1157	most compatible with certain professional opportunities. The Labor 982
1158	1158	Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Veterans 983
1159	1159	Affairs and the Adjutant General, shall develop a database in which 984
1160	1160	such veterans and members are categorized based on the types of 985
1161	1161	military training received and cross-referenced against certain 986
1162	1162	professional opportunities for purposes of pairing any such veteran or 987
1163	1163	member with any such professional opportunity. Any veteran or 988
1164	1164	member of the armed forces or National Guard may apply for inclusion 989
1165	1165	in such database by submitting (1) evidence of the military training 990
1166	1166	received by such veteran or member describing the particular 991
1167	1167	knowledge, experience or set of skills acquired, and (2) if such applicant 992
1168	1168	is a veteran, such veteran's military discharge document or a certified 993
1169	1169	copy thereof. The Labor Commissioner shall evaluate any such 994
1170	1170	application, include such veteran or member in such database, and so 995
1171	1171	categorize such veteran or member as described in this section. The 996
1172	1172	Labor Commissioner shall update such database weekly and shall 997
1173	1173	publish such database on the Labor Department's Internet web site. Any 998
1174	1174	person interested in hiring any such veteran or member included in 999
1175	1175	such database shall contact the department through a dedicated 1000
1176	1176	telephone number and the department shall facilitate contact between 1001
1177	1177	such person and such veteran or member. For the purposes of this 1002
1178	1178	section, (A) "veteran" [means any person who was discharged or 1003
1179	1179	released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service 1004
1180	1180	in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in section 27-1005
1181	1181	103, as amended by this act, (B) "armed forces" has the same meaning as 1006
1182	1182	provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act, and (C) "military 1007
1183	1183	discharge document" has the same meaning as provided in section 1-1008
1184	1184	219, as amended by this act. 1009
1185	1185	Sec. 33. Subsection (a) of section 31-11ss of the general statutes is 1010 Raised Bill No. 918
1186	1186
1187	1187
1188	1188
1189	1189	LCO No. 3667 32 of 41
1190	1190
1191	1191	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1011
1192	1192	1, 2021): 1012
1193	1193	(a) As used in this section: 1013
1194	1194	(1) "Advanced manufacturing" means a manufacturing process that 1014
1195	1195	makes extensive use of computer, high-precision or information 1015
1196	1196	technologies integrated with a high-performance work force in a 1016
1197	1197	production system capable of furnishing a heterogeneous mix of 1017
1198	1198	products in small or large volumes with either the efficiency of mass 1018
1199	1199	production or the flexibility of custom manufacturing in order to 1019
1200	1200	respond quickly to customer demands. "Advanced manufacturing" 1020
1201	1201	includes newly developed methods to manufacture existing products 1021
1202	1202	and the manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced 1022
1203	1203	technologies; 1023
1204	1204	(2) "Eligible business" means a business that (A) has operations in 1024
1205	1205	Connecticut, (B) has been registered to conduct business for not less than 1025
1206	1206	twelve months, and (C) is in good standing with respect to the payment 1026
1207	1207	of all state and local taxes. "Eligible business" does not include the state 1027
1208	1208	or any political subdivision thereof; 1028
1209	1209	(3) "Private occupational school" has the same meaning as provided 1029
1210	1210	in section 10a-22a; 1030
1211	1211	(4) "Public institution of higher education" means any of the 1031
1212	1212	institutions of higher education identified in subdivision (2) of section 1032
1213	1213	10a-1; 1033
1214	1214	(5) "Qualifying advanced manufacturing certificate program" means 1034
1215	1215	a for-credit or noncredit sub-baccalaureate advanced manufacturing 1035
1216	1216	certificate program offered by a public institution of higher education 1036
1217	1217	or a private occupational school in which at least seventy-five per cent 1037
1218	1218	of the graduates of such certificate program are employed in a field 1038
1219	1219	related to or requiring such certificate in the year following graduation; 1039
1220	1220	and 1040 Raised Bill No. 918
1221	1221
1222	1222
1223	1223
1224	1224	LCO No. 3667 33 of 41
1225	1225
1226	1226	(6) "Veteran" [means any person (A) honorably discharged from, or 1041
1227	1227	released under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed 1042
1228	1228	forces, as defined in section 27-103, or (B) with a qualifying condition, 1043
1229	1229	as defined in section 27-103, who has received a discharge other than 1044
1230	1230	bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed forces] 1045
1231	1231	has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this 1046
1232	1232	act. 1047
1233	1233	Sec. 34. Subsection (a) of section 31-11tt of the general statutes is 1048
1234	1234	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1049
1235	1235	1, 2021): 1050
1236	1236	(a) Not later than October 1, 2019, the work force development board 1051
1237	1237	for the southwest work force development region of the state shall 1052
1238	1238	develop and operate a pilot program to be known as the Veterans 1053
1239	1239	Platform to Employment Program. The program shall provide training 1054
1240	1240	and subsidized employment for veterans who have experienced long-1055
1241	1241	term unemployment in a similar manner to the Platform to Employment 1056
1242	1242	Program currently operated by such board. The pilot program shall 1057
1243	1243	provide veterans in a region served by the program with (1) a 1058
1244	1244	preparatory program that includes services such as skills assessments, 1059
1245	1245	career readiness workshops, employee assistance programs and 1060
1246	1246	coaching, and (2) employment assistance that includes identifying 1061
1247	1247	positions at local employers and providing subsidies to employers that 1062
1248	1248	hire veterans for trial work experiences that may lead to continued 1063
1249	1249	employment. The pilot program may offer additional services to assist 1064
1250	1250	veterans, including personal and family support services and financial 1065
1251	1251	counseling. As used in this section, "veteran" [means any person (A) 1066
1252	1252	honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 1067
1253	1253	from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or 1068
1254	1254	(B) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has 1069
1255	1255	received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active 1070
1256	1256	service in the armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in section 1071
1257	1257	27-103, as amended by this act. 1072
1258	1258	Sec. 35. Section 31-22u of the general statutes is repealed and the 1073 Raised Bill No. 918
1259	1259
1260	1260
1261	1261
1262	1262	LCO No. 3667 34 of 41
1263	1263
1264	1264	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1074
1265	1265	Any member of the armed forces or National Guard or any veteran, 1075
1266	1266	within two years of such veteran's discharge from the armed forces, may 1076
1267	1267	submit an application for military training evaluation to the Labor 1077
1268	1268	Department program of apprentice training set forth in section 31-22q. 1078
1269	1269	Such application shall include (1) evidence of satisfactory completion of 1079
1270	1270	a program or course of instruction as part of military training that is 1080
1271	1271	equivalent in content and quality to that required for a specific trade in 1081
1272	1272	this state, and (2) if such applicant is a veteran, such veteran's military 1082
1273	1273	discharge document or a certified copy thereof. The Labor 1083
1274	1274	Commissioner shall evaluate any such application and determine 1084
1275	1275	whether the applicant's military training may be substituted for all or 1085
1276	1276	part of the term of an apprenticeship program registered with the Labor 1086
1277	1277	Department for a specific trade. If the commissioner determines that the 1087
1278	1278	applicant's military training is equivalent to the training required for 1088
1279	1279	completion of such apprenticeship program, the commissioner shall 1089
1280	1280	issue such applicant a recommendation for review by the appropriate 1090
1281	1281	examining board established under section 20-331. Presentation of such 1091
1282	1282	recommendation, pursuant to section 20-333, shall allow such applicant 1092
1283	1283	to sit for any licensure examination without participation in an 1093
1284	1284	apprenticeship program. If the commissioner determines that the 1094
1285	1285	applicant's military training is equivalent to part of the training required 1095
1286	1286	for completion of an apprenticeship program, such applicant's hours of 1096
1287	1287	qualified military training, as determined by the commissioner, shall be 1097
1288	1288	deducted from the hours of apprenticeship training required for the 1098
1289	1289	specific trade provided (A) such applicant completes the minimum 1099
1290	1290	number of hours of apprenticeship training required under federal law, 1100
1291	1291	and (B) prior to implementation of this provision, the Labor Department 1101
1292	1292	obtains concurrence with such provision from the federal office of 1102
1293	1293	apprenticeship pursuant to 29 CFR 29.13(b)(9). For the purposes of this 1103
1294	1294	section, (i) "veteran" [means any person who was discharged or released 1104
1295	1295	under conditions other than dishonorable from active service in the 1105
1296	1296	armed forces] has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of 1106
1297	1297	section 27-103, as amended by this act, (ii) "armed forces" has the same 1107 Raised Bill No. 918
1298	1298
1299	1299
1300	1300
1301	1301	LCO No. 3667 35 of 41
1302	1302
1303	1303	meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act, and (iii) 1108
1304	1304	"military discharge document" has the same meaning as provided in 1109
1305	1305	section 1-219, as amended by this act. 1110
1306	1306	Sec. 36. Section 51-49h of the general statutes is repealed and the 1111
1307	1307	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1112
1308	1308	(a) Any judge of the Superior Court, the Appellate Court or the 1113
1309	1309	Supreme Court who first commenced service as a judge prior to January 1114
1310	1310	1, 1981, may elect to receive the retirement salary provided under 1115
1311	1311	subsection (b) of section 51-50. The surviving spouse of a deceased judge 1116
1312	1312	who has made an election under this section shall receive the allowances 1117
1313	1313	provided under subsection (b) of section 51-51. 1118
1314	1314	(b) Any such judge, any family support magistrate or any 1119
1315	1315	compensation commissioner who is a veteran may receive credit for 1120
1316	1316	retirement purposes for military service, if such judge, family support 1121
1317	1317	magistrate or compensation commissioner makes retirement 1122
1318	1318	contributions for each month of military service equal to one-twelfth of 1123
1319	1319	five per cent of his first year's salary as a judge, family support 1124
1320	1320	magistrate or compensation commissioner multiplied by the total 1125
1321	1321	number of months of such military service, except that (1) no retirement 1126
1322	1322	contribution shall be made for service as a prisoner of war, and (2) no 1127
1323	1323	credit shall be allowed for military service to any such judge, family 1128
1324	1324	support magistrate or compensation commissioner who has served less 1129
1325	1325	than ten years as a judge, family support magistrate or compensation 1130
1326	1326	commissioner, nor for more than fifty per cent of such military service 1131
1327	1327	or three years, whichever is less. Service credit for military service for 1132
1328	1328	retirement purposes other than service as a prisoner of war shall not be 1133
1329	1329	granted until payment of contributions is completed. Any application 1134
1330	1330	for military service credit under this section for service as a prisoner of 1135
1331	1331	war shall be accompanied by sufficient proof from the United States 1136
1332	1332	Department of Veterans Affairs that such judge, family support 1137
1333	1333	magistrate or compensation commissioner is a former prisoner of war. 1138
1334	1334	(c) For purposes of this section: (1) "Armed forces" means the United 1139 Raised Bill No. 918
1335	1335
1336	1336
1337	1337
1338	1338	LCO No. 3667 36 of 41
1339	1339
1340	1340	States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force; (2) 1140
1341	1341	"veteran" [means any person honorably discharged from, or released 1141
1342	1342	under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed forces] has 1142
1343	1343	the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 27-103, as 1143
1344	1344	amended by this act; (3) "military service" shall be service during World 1144
1345	1345	War II, December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946; the Korean hostilities, 1145
1346	1346	June 27, 1950, to October 27, 1953; and the Vietnam era, January 1, 1964, 1146
1347	1347	to July 1, 1975, and shall include service as a prisoner of war. 1147
1348	1348	Sec. 37. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 54-56e of the general statutes 1148
1349	1349	are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 1149
1350	1350	October 1, 2021): 1150
1351	1351	(a) There shall be a pretrial program for accelerated rehabilitation of 1151
1352	1352	persons accused of a crime or crimes or a motor vehicle violation or 1152
1353	1353	violations for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment may be 1153
1354	1354	imposed, which crimes or violations are not of a serious nature. Upon 1154
1355	1355	application by any such person for participation in the program, the 1155
1356	1356	court shall, but only as to the public, order the court file sealed. 1156
1357	1357	(b) The court may, in its discretion, invoke such program on motion 1157
1358	1358	of the defendant or on motion of a state's attorney or prosecuting 1158
1359	1359	attorney with respect to a defendant (1) who, the court believes, will 1159
1360	1360	probably not offend in the future, (2) who has no previous record of 1160
1361	1361	conviction of a crime or of a violation of section 14-196, subsection (c) of 1161
1362	1362	section 14-215, section 14-222a, subsection (a) or subdivision (1) of 1162
1363	1363	subsection (b) of section 14-224, section 14-227a or 14-227m or 1163
1364	1364	subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n, and (3) who 1164
1365	1365	states under oath, in open court or before any person designated by the 1165
1366	1366	clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths, under the penalties of 1166
1367	1367	perjury, (A) that the defendant has never had such program invoked on 1167
1368	1368	the defendant's behalf or that the defendant was charged with a 1168
1369	1369	misdemeanor or a motor vehicle violation for which a term of 1169
1370	1370	imprisonment of one year or less may be imposed and ten or more years 1170
1371	1371	have passed since the date that any charge or charges for which the 1171
1372	1372	program was invoked on the defendant's behalf were dismissed by the 1172 Raised Bill No. 918
1373	1373
1374	1374
1375	1375
1376	1376	LCO No. 3667 37 of 41
1377	1377
1378	1378	court, or (B) with respect to a defendant who is a veteran, that the 1173
1379	1379	defendant has not had such program invoked in the defendant's behalf 1174
1380	1380	more than once previously, provided the defendant shall agree thereto 1175
1381	1381	and provided notice has been given by the defendant, on a form 1176
1382	1382	prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, to the victim 1177
1383	1383	or victims of such crime or motor vehicle violation, if any, by registered 1178
1384	1384	or certified mail and such victim or victims have an opportunity to be 1179
1385	1385	heard thereon. Any defendant who makes application for participation 1180
1386	1386	in such program shall pay to the court an application fee of thirty-five 1181
1387	1387	dollars. No defendant shall be allowed to participate in the pretrial 1182
1388	1388	program for accelerated rehabilitation more than two times. For the 1183
1389	1389	purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any person who was 1184
1390	1390	discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 1185
1391	1391	active service in the armed forces as defined in section 27-103] has the 1186
1392	1392	same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 27-103, as 1187
1393	1393	amended by this act. 1188
1394	1394	Sec. 38. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 54-56i of the general 1189
1395	1395	statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1190
1396	1396	(Effective October 1, 2021): 1191
1397	1397	(a) There is established a pretrial drug education and community 1192
1398	1398	service program for persons charged with a violation of section 21a-267, 1193
1399	1399	21a-279 or 21a-279a. The pretrial drug education and community service 1194
1400	1400	program shall include a fifteen-session drug education program and a 1195
1401	1401	substance abuse treatment program of not less than fifteen sessions, and 1196
1402	1402	the performance of community service. 1197
1403	1403	(b) Upon application by any such person for participation in such 1198
1404	1404	program, the court shall, but only as to the public, order the court file 1199
1405	1405	sealed, and such person shall pay to the court of an application fee of 1200
1406	1406	one hundred dollars and a nonrefundable evaluation fee of one hundred 1201
1407	1407	fifty dollars. A person shall be ineligible for participation in such pretrial 1202
1408	1408	drug education and community service program if such person has 1203
1409	1409	twice previously participated in (1) the pretrial drug education program 1204
1410	1410	established under the provisions of this section in effect prior to October 1205 Raised Bill No. 918
1411	1411
1412	1412
1413	1413
1414	1414	LCO No. 3667 38 of 41
1415	1415
1416	1416	1, 2013, (2) the community service labor program established under 1206
1417	1417	section 53a-39c, (3) the pretrial drug education and community service 1207
1418	1418	program established under this section, or (4) any of such programs, 1208
1419	1419	except that the court may allow a person who has twice previously 1209
1420	1420	participated in such programs to participate in the pretrial drug 1210
1421	1421	education and community service program one additional time, for 1211
1422	1422	good cause shown. The evaluation and application fee imposed under 1212
1423	1423	this subsection shall be credited to the pretrial account established 1213
1424	1424	under section 54-56k. 1214
1425	1425	(c) The court, after consideration of the recommendation of the state's 1215
1426	1426	attorney, assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney in 1216
1427	1427	charge of the case, may, in its discretion, grant such application. If the 1217
1428	1428	court grants such application, the court shall refer such person (1) to the 1218
1429	1429	Court Support Services Division for confirmation of the eligibility of the 1219
1430	1430	applicant, (2) to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction 1220
1431	1431	Services for evaluation and determination of an appropriate drug 1221
1432	1432	education or substance abuse treatment program for the first or second 1222
1433	1433	time such application is granted, and (3) to a state-licensed substance 1223
1434	1434	abuse treatment program for evaluation and determination of an 1224
1435	1435	appropriate substance abuse treatment program for the third time such 1225
1436	1436	application is granted, except that, if such person is a veteran, the court 1226
1437	1437	may refer such person to the Department of Veterans Affairs or the 1227
1438	1438	United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as applicable, for any 1228
1439	1439	such evaluation and determination. For the purposes of this subsection 1229
1440	1440	and subsection (d) of this section, "veteran" [means any person who was 1230
1441	1441	discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from 1231
1442	1442	active service in the armed forces as defined in section 27-103] has the 1232
1443	1443	same meaning provided in subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended 1233
1444	1444	by this act. 1234
1445	1445	Sec. 39. Subsection (a) of section 54-56l of the general statutes is 1235
1446	1446	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1236
1447	1447	1, 2021): 1237
1448	1448	(a) There shall be a supervised diversionary program for persons 1238 Raised Bill No. 918
1449	1449
1450	1450
1451	1451
1452	1452	LCO No. 3667 39 of 41
1453	1453
1454	1454	with psychiatric disabilities, or persons who are veterans, who are 1239
1455	1455	accused of a crime or crimes or a motor vehicle violation or violations 1240
1456	1456	for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment may be imposed, which 1241
1457	1457	crimes or violations are not of a serious nature. For the purposes of this 1242
1458	1458	section, (1) "psychiatric disability" means a mental or emotional 1243
1459	1459	condition, other than solely substance abuse, that (A) has substantial 1244
1460	1460	adverse effects on the defendant's ability to function, and (B) requires 1245
1461	1461	care and treatment, and (2) "veteran" means [a person who is] a veteran, 1246
1462	1462	as defined in section 27-103, as amended by this act, who is found, 1247
1463	1463	pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, to have a mental health 1248
1464	1464	condition that is amenable to treatment. [, and who was discharged or 1249
1465	1465	released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service 1250
1466	1466	in the armed forces as defined in section 27-103.] 1251
1467	1467	Sec. 40. Subsection (a) of section 54-56n of the general statutes is 1252
1468	1468	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1253
1469	1469	1, 2021): 1254
1470	1470	(a) The Judicial Branch shall collect data on the number of members 1255
1471	1471	of the armed forces, veterans and nonveterans who, on and after 1256
1472	1472	January 1, 2016, apply for and are granted admission or are denied entry 1257
1473	1473	into (1) the pretrial program for accelerated rehabilitation established 1258
1474	1474	pursuant to section 54-56e, as amended by this act, (2) the supervised 1259
1475	1475	diversionary program established pursuant to section 54-56l, as 1260
1476	1476	amended by this act, or (3) the pretrial drug education and community 1261
1477	1477	service program established pursuant to section 54-56i, as amended by 1262
1478	1478	this act. Data compiled pursuant to this section shall be based on 1263
1479	1479	information provided by applicants at the time of application to any 1264
1480	1480	such program. For the purposes of this section, "veteran" [means any 1265
1481	1481	person who was discharged or released under conditions other than 1266
1482	1482	dishonorable from active service in the armed forces] and "armed 1267
1483	1483	forces" [has] have the same [meaning] meanings as provided in section 1268
1484	1484	27-103, as amended by this act.1269 Raised Bill No. 918
1485	1485
1486	1486
1487	1487
1488	1488	LCO No. 3667 40 of 41
1489	1489
1490	1490	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
1491	1491	sections:
1492	1492
1493	1493	Section 1 October 1, 2021 27-103(a)
1494	1494	Sec. 2 October 1, 2021 1-219(a)
1495	1495	Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 4-61bb(a)
1496	1496	Sec. 4 October 1, 2021 4a-59(c)
1497	1497	Sec. 5 October 1, 2021 7-294d(b)
1498	1498	Sec. 6 October 1, 2021 8-75
1499	1499	Sec. 7 October 1, 2021 10-5(c)
1500	1500	Sec. 8 October 1, 2021 10a-99(d)
1501	1501	Sec. 9 October 1, 2021 10a-105(e)
1502	1502	Sec. 10 October 1, 2021 10-221a(i)
1503	1503	Sec. 11 October 1, 2021 10a-149d(a)
1504	1504	Sec. 12 October 1, 2021 10a-161d(a)
1505	1505	Sec. 13 October 1, 2021 12-217pp(a)
1506	1506	Sec. 14 October 1, 2021 12-412(63)(D)
1507	1507	Sec. 15 October 1, 2021 14-20b(a)
1508	1508	Sec. 16 October 1, 2021 14-36(e)(3)
1509	1509	Sec. 17 October 1, 2021 14-36h(e) and (f)
1510	1510	Sec. 18 October 1, 2021 14-50(c)
1511	1511	Sec. 19 October 1, 2021 14-254
1512	1512	Sec. 20 October 1, 2021 17b-28i(a)
1513	1513	Sec. 21 October 1, 2021 19a-179
1514	1514	Sec. 22 October 1, 2021 20-206mm(j) and (k)
1515	1515	Sec. 23 October 1, 2021 27-100g
1516	1516	Sec. 24 October 1, 2021 27-108(a)
1517	1517	Sec. 25 October 1, 2021 27-109
1518	1518	Sec. 26 October 1, 2021 27-118
1519	1519	Sec. 27 October 1, 2021 27-122b(a)
1520	1520	Sec. 28 October 1, 2021 27-125
1521	1521	Sec. 29 October 1, 2021 27-140
1522	1522	Sec. 30 October 1, 2021 29-161q(b)
1523	1523	Sec. 31 October 1, 2021 31-3w(c)
1524	1524	Sec. 32 October 1, 2021 31-3zz
1525	1525	Sec. 33 October 1, 2021 31-11ss(a)
1526	1526	Sec. 34 October 1, 2021 31-11tt(a)
1527	1527	Sec. 35 October 1, 2021 31-22u
1528	1528	Sec. 36 October 1, 2021 51-49h
1529	1529	Sec. 37 October 1, 2021 54-56e(a) and (b)
1530	1530	Sec. 38 October 1, 2021 54-56i(a) to (c) Raised Bill No. 918
1531	1531
1532	1532
1533	1533
1534	1534	LCO No. 3667 41 of 41
1535	1535
1536	1536	Sec. 39 October 1, 2021 54-56l(a)
1537	1537	Sec. 40 October 1, 2021 54-56n(a)
1538	1538
1539	1539	Statement of Purpose:
1540	1540	To expand the definition of veteran.
1541	1541	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
1542	1542	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
1543	1543	underlined.]
1544	1544