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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5367
February Session, 2022
AN ACT CONCERNING MOTOR VEHICLE MARKER PLATES FOR
CERTAIN VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS, TAX RELIEF FOR
VETERANS, MUNICIPAL VETERANS SERVICES AND TECHNICAL
REVISIONS TO VETERANS' AND MILITARY AFFAIRS STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 14-20d of the 2022 1
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 2
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 3
(a) For the purposes of this section, "veteran", [means any person (1) 4
honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions 5
from active service in, the armed forces, or (2) with a qualifying 6
condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has received a discharge 7
other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed 8
forces, and "period of war" and] "armed forces" and "period of war" have 9
the same meanings as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this 10
act. 11
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, at the request of any 12
veteran or member of the armed forces who received a campaign medal, 13
issue special registration marker plates to indicate service during a 14
period of war. Such plates shall bear the words "(Name of War) Veteran" 15
and shall be designed in consultation with the Commissioner of 16 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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[Veteran] Veterans Affairs. The plates shall expire and be renewed as 17
provided in section 14-22. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall 18
charge a fee for such plates, which fee shall cover the entire cost of 19
making such plates and shall be in addition to the fee for registration of 20
such motor vehicle. No use shall be made of such plates except as official 21
registration marker plates. 22
Sec. 2. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 27-103 of the 2022 23
supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 24
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 25
(a) As used in the general statutes, except chapter 504, and except as 26
otherwise provided: (1) "Armed forces" means the United States Army, 27
Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force and any reserve 28
component thereof, including the Connecticut National Guard 29
performing duty as provided in Title 32 of the United States Code, as 30
amended from time to time; (2) "veteran" means any person honorably 31
discharged from, released under honorable conditions from or released 32
with an other than honorable discharge based on a qualifying condition 33
from, active service in, the armed forces; (3) "service in time of war" 34
means service of ninety or more cumulative days during a period of war 35
unless separated from service earlier because of an injury incurred or 36
aggravated in the line of duty or a service-connected disability rated by 37
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, except that if the 38
period of war lasted less than ninety days, "service in time of war" 39
means service for the entire period of war unless separated because of 40
any such injury or disability; (4) "period of war" has the same meaning 41
as provided in 38 USC 101, as amended from time to time, except that 42
the "Vietnam Era" means the period beginning on February 28, 1961, and 43
ending on July 1, 1975, in all cases; and "period of war" shall include 44
service while engaged in combat or a combat support role in Lebanon, 45
July 1, 1958, to November 1, 1958, or September 29, 1982, to March 30, 46
1984; Grenada, October 25, 1983, to December 15, 1983; Operation 47
Earnest Will, involving the escort of Kuwaiti oil tankers flying the 48
United States flag in the Persian Gulf, July 24, 1987, to August 1, 1990; 49 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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[and] Panama, December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990; Afghanistan, 50
October 24, 2001, to August 30, 2021; and Iraq, March 19, 2003, to 51
December 31, 2011, or June 1, 2014, to December 9, 2021, and shall 52
include service during such periods with the armed forces of any 53
government associated with the United States; and (5) "qualifying 54
condition" means (A) a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder or 55
traumatic brain injury made by an individual licensed to provide health 56
care services at a United States Department of Veterans Affairs facility, 57
(B) an experience of military sexual trauma, as described in 38 USC 58
1720D, as amended from time to time, disclosed to an individual 59
licensed to provide health care services at a United States Department 60
of Veterans Affairs facility, or (C) a determination that sexual 61
orientation, gender identity or gender expression was more likely than 62
not the primary reason for an other than honorable discharge, as 63
determined in accordance with subsections (c) and (d) of this section. 64
(b) As used in this part, "Veterans Residential Services facility" means 65
the Veterans Residential Services facility in Rocky Hill maintained by 66
the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides temporary and other 67
supported residential services for qualifying veterans; "long-term care 68
facility" means a facility that has been federally certified as a skilled 69
nursing facility or intermediate care facility; "Healthcare Center" means 70
the long-term care facility in Rocky Hill maintained by the Department 71
of Veterans Affairs; "veteran" means any veteran, as defined in 72
subsection (a) of this section, who is a resident of this state; "eligible 73
dependent" means any parent, wife or husband, or child of a veteran 74
who has no adequate means of support; and "eligible family member" 75
means any parent, brother or sister, wife or husband, or child or children 76
under eighteen years of age, of any veteran whose cooperation in the 77
program is integral to the treatment of the veteran. 78
(c) Not later than October 1, 2021, the Commissioner of Veterans 79
Affairs shall establish a Qualifying Review Board, which shall review 80
applications of veterans submitted under subsection (d) of this section. 81
Said board shall be part of the Executive Department and shall consist 82 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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of five voting members who, by education or experience, shall be 83
knowledgeable of veterans benefits and programs and who shall have a 84
demonstrated interest in the concerns of veterans. A majority of the 85
members of the board shall be veterans. 86
(1) The membership of the board shall consist of the following 87
members: 88
(A) One member appointed by the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs 89
in consultation with the chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the 90
Department of Veterans Affairs, [Board of Trustees,] who shall be a 91
member of said board; 92
(B) The manager of the Office of Advocacy and Assistance within the 93
Department of Veterans Affairs, [Office of Advocacy and Assistance,] or 94
the manager's designee; and 95
(C) Three members appointed by the Commissioner of Veterans 96
Affairs. 97
(2) All initial appointments to the board shall be made not later than 98
December 1, 2021, and shall terminate on November [31] 30, 2023, or 99
November [31] 30, 2024, as applicable, regardless of when the initial 100
appointment was made. Any member of the board may serve more than 101
one term. 102
(3) Members first appointed shall have the following terms: (A) The 103
member of the Board of Trustees for the Department of Veterans Affairs 104
[Board of Trustees] and the manager of the Office of Advocacy and 105
Assistance within the Department of Veterans Affairs, [Office of 106
Advocacy and Assistance,] or the manager's designee, shall initially 107
serve a term of three years, and (B) the three members appointed by the 108
Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall initially serve a term of two 109
years. Members shall serve a term of four years thereafter. Members 110
shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed. 111
(4) Any vacancy shall be filled by the Commissioner of Veterans 112 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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Affairs. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be 113
filled for the balance of the unexpired term. 114
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of section 4-9a, 115
the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall select the chairperson of the 116
board from among the members of the board. Such chairperson shall 117
schedule the first meeting of the board, which shall be held not later 118
than January 1, 2022. 119
(6) A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the 120
transaction of any business. 121
(7) The members of the board shall serve without compensation. 122
(8) The board shall meet at least monthly or as often as deemed 123
necessary by the chairperson based on the number of applications 124
pending before the board. 125
Sec. 3. Section 27-118 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 126
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 127
October 1, 2022): 128
(a) When any veteran or member, as those terms are defined in 129
subsection [(e)] (g) of this section, dies, not having sufficient estate to 130
pay the necessary expenses of the veteran's or member's last sickness 131
and funeral expenses, as determined by the [commissioner] 132
Commissioner of Veterans Affairs after consultation with the probate 133
court for the district in which the veteran or member resided, the state 134
shall pay the sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars toward such 135
funeral expenses. 136
(b) Burial shall be in [some] a cemetery or plot not used exclusively 137
for the burial of the pauper dead. 138
(c) No amount shall be paid for funeral expenses unless claim therefor 139
is made [within one year from] not later than one year after the date of 140
death, except that in cases of death occurring abroad [,] such claim may 141 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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be made within one year after the remains of [such] the veteran or 142
member have been interred in this country. No provision of this section 143
shall prevent the payment of the sum under subsection (a) of this section 144
for funeral expenses on account of the burial of [such] the veteran or 145
member being made outside the limits of this state. 146
(d) Upon satisfactory proof to the commissioner, by the person who 147
has paid or provided for the funeral expenses [to the commissioner] of 148
a deceased veteran, of the identity of the [deceased] veteran, the time 149
and place of the [deceased's] veteran's death and burial and the 150
approval thereof by the commissioner, the sum under subsection (a) of 151
this section shall be paid by the Comptroller to [the] such person who 152
has paid or provided for the funeral expenses. 153
(e) (1) Upon satisfactory proof to the commissioner, by the person 154
who has paid or provided for the funeral [or burial expense to the 155
commissioner] expenses of a deceased member, of the identity of the 156
[deceased] member, the time and place of the [deceased] member's 157
death and burial and the approval thereof by the commissioner, the sum 158
[of one thousand eight hundred dollars] under subsection (a) of this 159
section shall be paid by the Comptroller to the person who has paid or 160
provided for the funeral [or burial expense, or upon assignment by such 161
person, to the funeral director who has provided the funeral] expenses. 162
(2) The person who has paid or provided for the funeral [or burial 163
expense] expenses of a deceased member shall provide to the 164
commissioner (A) an affidavit stating (i) when the [deceased] member 165
served, (ii) where the [deceased] member served, (iii) the unit in which 166
the [deceased] member served, and (iv) the capacity in which the 167
[deceased] member served; (B) any available corroborating witness 168
affidavits; (C) any available official documentation of service; and (D) 169
any other documents supporting the affidavit. 170
(f) Whenever the Comptroller has lawfully paid any sum toward the 171
funeral expenses of any deceased veteran or member and it afterwards 172
appears that the [deceased] veteran or member left any estate, the 173 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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Comptroller may present a claim on behalf of the state against the estate 174
of such [deceased] veteran or member for the sum so paid, and the claim 175
shall be a preferred claim against such estate and shall be paid to the 176
Treasurer. [of the state.] The commissioner, upon the advice of the 177
Attorney General, may make application for administration upon the 178
estate of any such [deceased] veteran or member if no other person 179
authorized by law makes such application within sixty days after such 180
payment has been made by the Comptroller. 181
(g) As used in this section, (1) "veteran" has the same meaning as 182
provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act, (2) "member" means 183
any person who served in the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units, 184
which units served in the United States secret war in the Kingdom of 185
Laos during the Vietnam War, and (3) "funeral expenses" means (A) the 186
cash advances paid by the funeral director and the cost of funeral 187
services and funeral merchandise, (B) the cost of burial, cremation or 188
disposition, and (C) the cost of publication of an obituary. "Funeral 189
merchandise" includes, but is not limited to, alternative containers, 190
caskets, urns, vaults and outer burial containers. 191
Sec. 4. Section 27-82 of the general statutes is repealed and the 192
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 193
The [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs is authorized 194
to administer the separation allowances provided for by this chapter 195
and enforce the provisions relating thereto. The commissioner shall 196
determine the amount of such separation allowances to be paid and 197
shall certify to the Comptroller the amounts to be paid monthly. The 198
Comptroller shall draw his orders on the Treasurer in payment thereof. 199
The commissioner may apply the provisions of sections 27-80 to 27-85, 200
inclusive, to any person who enters the military or naval service of the 201
United States through the provisions of any system of selective draft 202
adopted by the federal government. 203
Sec. 5. Section 27-86 of the general statutes is repealed and the 204
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 205 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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Whenever the provisions of this chapter relating to separation 206
allowances become operative through the calling of the National Guard 207
or other forces into active service, the [commissioner] Commissioner of 208
Veterans Affairs shall pay such allowances as are to be paid out of any 209
funds which the state may have available for such purposes and, if no 210
funds are available, the State Treasurer is authorized to borrow, in the 211
name of the state, on notes, such funds as are necessary to administer 212
such provisions. In either case said commissioner shall certify to the 213
General Assembly at its next regular session the amount expended, or, 214
if such provisions are at that time operative, shall certify to the amount 215
expended under them up to and including the first Wednesday of 216
December preceding the convening of the General Assembly, and in 217
either case the General Assembly shall appropriate sufficient funds to 218
cover such expenditures; and, in the event of the existence of 219
circumstances making such provisions still operative, the General 220
Assembly shall take the necessary steps to provide for the requisite 221
expense. 222
Sec. 6. Section 27-102m of the general statutes is repealed and the 223
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 224
The [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, in his or her 225
discretion, shall investigate all complaints made to the commissioner 226
with respect to the conduct or treatment of veterans, their spouses, or 227
eligible dependents and family members receiving services under this 228
chapter, or any program administered by the [department] Department 229
of Veterans Affairs and for such purpose shall have power to compel 230
the attendance of witnesses under oath. If upon the completion of such 231
investigation, the commissioner finds that any veteran, spouse or 232
eligible dependent has not received proper care or has been [ill treated] 233
ill-treated or abused by any officer or employee, the commissioner shall, 234
in his or her discretion, cause the offender to be prosecuted, disciplined 235
or dismissed and shall order such remedial action as the commissioner 236
deems necessary to eliminate the condition. If upon such investigation, 237
the commissioner finds that no adequate grounds exist for such 238 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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complaint, the commissioner shall certify that fact to the officer or 239
employee involved and cause such officer's or employee's record to be 240
cleared of the incident. 241
Sec. 7. Section 27-106 of the general statutes is repealed and the 242
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 243
(a) The [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall adopt 244
and enforce such rules as may be necessary to ensure order, enforce 245
discipline and preserve the health and ensure the comfort of the 246
residents in the Veterans Residential Services facility and patients in the 247
Healthcare Center, and shall discipline or dismiss any officer or resident 248
of said facility or patient in the Healthcare Center who violates such 249
rules. The commissioner shall (1) appoint, subject to the provisions of 250
chapter 67, such officers and employees as are necessary for the 251
administration of the affairs of said facility and the Healthcare Center, 252
(2) prescribe the relative rank, if any, of such officers and employees, 253
and (3) commission each such officer, who shall wear such uniform, if 254
any, as is prescribed by the commissioner. 255
(b) The chief fiscal officer shall submit a semiannual plain language 256
report to each resident of the Veterans Residential Services facility and 257
patient of the Healthcare Center detailing the manner in which the 258
institutional general welfare fund was used over the previous six 259
months to directly benefit veterans, said facility or the Healthcare 260
Center. Such report shall include a prominently displayed statement 261
encouraging residents to submit suggestions for projects to be funded 262
by the institutional general welfare fund and a form for such 263
submissions. 264
(c) The chief fiscal officer shall submit an itemized list of expenditures 265
made from the institutional general welfare fund to the commissioner 266
at intervals not greater than two months. Such list shall include all such 267
expenditures made during the two-month period preceding its 268
submission. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-56, the 269
commissioner shall prescribe procedures to limit and specify the uses 270 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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for which expenditures may be made from the institutional general 271
welfare fund so that only expenditures that, in the opinion of the 272
commissioner and the [board of trustees] Board of Trustees for the 273
[department] Department of Veterans Affairs appointed pursuant to 274
section 27-102n, directly benefit veterans, the Veterans Residential 275
Services facility or the Healthcare Center are permitted. 276
(d) In addition to the estimate of expenditure requirements required 277
under section 4-77, the commissioner shall submit an accounting of all 278
planned expenditures for the next fiscal year from the institutional 279
general welfare fund to the joint standing committee of the General 280
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and 281
the budgets of state agencies at the time such estimate is submitted. 282
(e) The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall annually hold suitable 283
exercises in the Veterans Residential Services facility on November 284
eleventh recognizing resident veterans for their military service. 285
Sec. 8. Section 27-109 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 286
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 287
October 1, 2022): 288
Any hospital, upon request of the [commissioner] Commissioner of 289
Veterans Affairs, shall furnish any veteran, determined by the 290
commissioner to be entitled to admission thereto, necessary food, 291
clothing, care and treatment therein at the expense of the state, unless 292
other funds or means of payment are available, and such veteran shall 293
have preference for admission into such hospital. As used in this section, 294
"veteran" has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as 295
amended by this act. 296
Sec. 9. Section 27-119a of the general statutes is repealed and the 297
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 298
The [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall, upon 299
application made by the chief executive authority of the town, city or 300
borough wherein the deceased is buried, cause a metal marker and flag 301 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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holder to be placed on the grave of any person who, in time of war, 302
served in the military or naval forces of the English colonies in America, 303
prior to 1776, or who served in the military or naval forces of the United 304
States in the Revolutionary War, which grave is not so marked. 305
Sec. 10. Section 27-120 of the general statutes is repealed and the 306
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 307
If any person who, in time of war, served in the military or naval 308
forces of the English colonies in America, prior to 1776, or of the state of 309
Connecticut or in the armed forces of the United States, and was 310
credited to said colonies, state or the United States, died during such 311
service of disease or wounds, or was killed in action, died in prison or 312
was lost at sea, and whose body was never brought home for interment, 313
or who was reported missing in action and has not been heard from, the 314
[commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall, upon proper 315
application, with satisfactory proof, made by the chief executive 316
authority of the municipality of which the deceased was a resident, as 317
to his identity and honorable service, cause to be erected in any cemetery 318
or public place in such municipality, at a cost to the state of not more 319
than fifty dollars, a marker or soldier's headstone, having inscribed 320
thereon the name of such person, the organization to which he 321
belonged, and the place of his death or burial or when he was reported 322
as missing in action or lost at sea. 323
Sec. 11. Section 27-121 of the general statutes is repealed and the 324
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 325
If the chief executive authority of any municipality which had as 326
residents several veterans who were killed or lost as described in section 327
27-120, as amended by this act, and to whose memory markers or 328
headstones have not already been erected, prefers a memorial stone or 329
plaque with the names of all such veterans inscribed thereon, erected in 330
a public place or cemetery in such municipality, the [commissioner] 331
Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall cause such a suitable memorial 332
to be erected in such municipality, which memorial shall be of such 333 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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design and material and of such cost as the commissioner determines. If 334
any municipality, organization or person contributes toward the 335
erection of such memorial, the location of the same shall be determined 336
by the commissioner and a committee of two persons appointed by the 337
municipality, organization or individuals making such contribution. 338
Any such memorial may include the names of any veterans who died or 339
were killed in action as described in [said] section 27-120, as amended 340
by this act, and whose bodies have been brought home for interment 341
whenever the municipality wherein such memorial is to be erected, or 342
any organization or person, agrees with the commissioner to share 343
proportionately the cost of erecting such memorial. 344
Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 27-122b of the 2022 supplement to 345
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 346
thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 347
(b) (1) Any veteran may, by letter or other communication addressed 348
to the [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, or by will, 349
request that upon his or her death his or her body be buried in a 350
veterans' cemetery established pursuant to section 27-122a, as amended 351
by this act, or (2) the spouse or other next of kin may apply to the 352
commissioner to have the body of such veteran buried in said veterans' 353
cemetery, and in either case such request shall be granted. 354
Sec. 13. Section 27-125 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 355
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 356
October 1, 2022): 357
Any veteran who is a citizen of this state and who, through disability 358
or other causes incident to service in the armed forces in time of war, is 359
in need of temporary financial assistance may be provided for by the 360
[commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs by a method similar 361
to that provided in section 27-82, as amended by this act, the amount 362
and continuance of such assistance to be discretionary with the 363
commissioner. The widow, widower and each child, parent, brother or 364
sister of any member of the armed forces, who died while in such active 365 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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service, may be assisted by the commissioner if such person or persons 366
are without sufficient means of support by reason of the death of such 367
member of the armed forces. In carrying out his or her duties under the 368
provisions of this section, the commissioner is directed to cooperate 369
with such federal agencies as may aid in securing prompt and suitable 370
treatment, care and relief of any such member of the armed forces or his 371
or her dependents. The records of the agencies of the state shall be 372
placed at the disposal of the commissioner and such agencies are 373
directed to cooperate with and to assist the commissioner in carrying 374
out his or her duties. As used in this section, "veteran" has the same 375
meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 376
Sec. 14. Section 27-117 of the general statutes is repealed and the 377
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 378
Any person who has in his or her possession or control any property 379
of any person applying for or receiving aid from the Soldiers, Sailors 380
and Marines Fund or the [department] Department of Veterans Affairs, 381
or who is indebted to such applicant or recipient or has knowledge of 382
any property belonging to him or her, and any officer who has control 383
of the books and accounts of any corporation which has possession or 384
control of any property belonging to any person applying for or 385
receiving such aid or is indebted to him or her, shall, upon presentation 386
by the disbursing officer thereof or any person deputized by him or her 387
of a certificate signed by him or her, stating that such applicant or 388
recipient has applied for or is receiving aid from said fund or the 389
department, make full disclosure to such disbursing officer or deputy of 390
any such property or indebtedness. Such disclosure may be obtained in 391
like manner of the property or indebtedness of any person liable for the 392
support of any such applicant or recipient. 393
Sec. 15. Subsection (c) of section 27-24 of the general statutes is 394
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 395
1, 2022): 396
(c) The Adjutant General shall designate either the assistant adjutant 397 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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general for the Connecticut Army National Guard or the assistant 398
adjutant general for the Connecticut Air National Guard to serve as 399
administrative assistant and deputy to the Adjutant General and as 400
deputy chief of staff to the Governor. Such assistant adjutant general (1) 401
shall perform all of the duties of the Adjutant General in his absence, 402
during his inability or by his direction and (2) shall devote all of his time, 403
during the office hours of the [department] Military Department, to the 404
duties of his office. The assistant adjutant general not so designated shall 405
perform such duties, consistent with his grade and position, as the 406
Adjutant General shall direct. 407
Sec. 16. Section 27-25 of the general statutes is repealed and the 408
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 409
The Adjutant General shall appoint a property and procurement 410
officer who shall be the assistant of the Adjutant General in the care of 411
all military property and who shall hold office at the pleasure of the 412
Adjutant General. He shall devote all of his time, during the office hours 413
of the [department] Military Department, to the duties of his office. 414
Sec. 17. Section 27-31 of the general statutes is repealed and the 415
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 416
The Adjutant General shall appoint such number of employees, 417
subject to the provisions of chapter 67 and section 4-40, as may be 418
required to perform adequately the duties required of the [department] 419
Military Department. Employees in the [Military Department] 420
department, not in the classified service, shall serve [during] at the 421
pleasure of the Adjutant General and shall perform such duties as may 422
be assigned to them. 423
Sec. 18. Section 27-102o of the general statutes is repealed and the 424
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 425
The Department of [Veterans'] Veterans Affairs may, subject to any 426
limitations otherwise imposed by law, receive and accept on behalf of 427
the state any funds that may be offered or that may become available 428 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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from federal grants or appropriations, private gifts, donations or 429
bequests, or any other source and may expend such funds for the 430
purpose of financing, in whole or in part and on behalf of the state, the 431
construction of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at 432
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. 433
Sec. 19. Section 27-102p of the general statutes is repealed and the 434
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 435
(a) Not later than July 15, 2007, and annually thereafter, each state 436
agency or municipality that provides benefits to veterans, as defined in 437
section 27-103, as amended by this act, shall submit a report to the 438
Commissioner of [Veterans'] Veterans Affairs that includes a 439
description of each type of benefit provided to veterans, the value of 440
such benefit and the number of veterans to whom such benefit was 441
provided, for the twelve-month period ending on June thirtieth of the 442
same year. The commissioner shall compile the data in such report. 443
(b) Not later than August 1, 2007, and annually thereafter, the 444
Commissioner of [Veterans'] Veterans Affairs shall submit a report of 445
the data compiled pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, for the 446
twelve-month period ending on June thirtieth of the same year, to the 447
Military Department and the joint standing committee of the General 448
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety, in 449
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such report shall 450
specify the total number of veterans receiving benefits and the value of 451
such benefits by category of benefit and in total for such period. 452
Sec. 20. Subsection (c) of section 27-122a of the general statutes is 453
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 454
1, 2022): 455
(c) The land transferred to the commission under subsections (a) and 456
(b) of this section and not transferred to the Commissioner of Mental 457
Health and Addiction Services and the Connecticut Valley Hospital 458
shall be used by the Commissioner of [Veterans'] Veterans Affairs for 459 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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the establishment and maintenance of a veterans' cemetery. 460
Sec. 21. Subsection (c) of section 51-49h of the 2022 supplement to the 461
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 462
thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 463
(c) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Armed forces" means the 464
United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force; 465
(2) "veteran" has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as 466
amended by this act; and (3) "military service" shall be service during 467
World War II, December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946; the Korean 468
hostilities, June 27, 1950, to October 27, 1953; and the Vietnam era, 469
January 1, 1964, to July 1, 1975, and shall include service as a prisoner of 470
war. 471
Sec. 22. Subsection (a) of section 27-20 of the general statutes is 472
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 473
1, 2022): 474
(a) The Adjutant General shall make such returns and reports to such 475
officers as may be prescribed by the United States Department of 476
Defense in regulations pertaining to the National Guard, at such times 477
and in such form as prescribed. The Adjutant General shall (1) keep the 478
service records of all officers and enlisted personnel, (2) issue authorized 479
service medals, ribbons and documents, (3) (A) generate and maintain 480
all records and documents required by state law or regulations 481
thereunder, and (B) process requests for such records pursuant to the 482
state Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, and (4) 483
(A) generate and maintain all records and documents required by 484
federal law or regulations thereunder, and (B) process requests for such 485
records pursuant to the federal Freedom of Information Act of 1976, 5 486
USC 552, as amended from time to time. 487
Sec. 23. Section 27-49 of the general statutes is repealed and the 488
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 489
Officers of the National Guard and naval militia shall be appointed 490 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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by the Governor, subject to the procedure prescribed in regulations of 491
the United States Department of Defense relating to the National Guard 492
and naval militia. The rule of seniority shall be followed when 493
practicable. Only such officers shall be commissioned in the National 494
Guard and naval militia as have successfully passed the tests and 495
examinations as to physical, moral and professional fitness prescribed 496
by the laws and regulations of the United States relating to the 497
qualifications of National Guard or naval militia officers. Officers of the 498
organized militia, as provided for in section 27-2, shall be appointed in 499
accordance with regulations approved by the Governor. 500
Sec. 24. Subsection (d) of section 1-219 of the general statutes is 501
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 502
1, 2022): 503
(d) The provisions of this section concerning the maintenance and 504
recording of United States Department of Defense documents shall not 505
apply to the State Library Board or the State Librarian. 506
Sec. 25. Subsection (a) of section 8-106 of the general statutes is 507
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 508
1, 2022): 509
(a) "Persons engaged in national defense activities" includes persons 510
in the military service of the United States; employees of the United 511
States Department of Defense; and workers engaged or to be engaged 512
in activities connected with and essential to national defense; and 513
includes the families of the aforesaid persons who are living with them. 514
Sec. 26. Subsection (b) of section 14-36h of the 2022 supplement to the 515
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 516
thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 517
(b) If any person does not reside in any state, territory or possession 518
of the United States because such person is on active military duty with 519
the United States Armed Forces, and such person's home state of record 520
is Connecticut, as reflected in the records of the United States 521 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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Department of Defense, United States Department of Homeland 522
Security or any federal department under which the United States Coast 523
Guard operates, such person may obtain a Connecticut operator's 524
license or identity card, provided such person: (1) Does not have an 525
operator's license or identity card issued by another state, territory or 526
possession of the United States, or surrenders any such license or 527
identity card; (2) has a current APO or FPO mailing address; (3) 528
designates such person's home address as 60 State Street, Wethersfield, 529
CT 06161; and (4) meets all other requirements for obtaining an 530
operator's license or identity card in this state. 531
Sec. 27. Section 17a-453d of the general statutes is repealed and the 532
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 533
The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in 534
collaboration with the Department of Children and Families and the 535
Department of Veterans Affairs, shall provide behavioral health 536
services, on a transitional basis, for the dependents and any member of 537
any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States who has 538
been called to active service in the armed forces of the state or the United 539
States for Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. 540
Such transitional services shall be provided when no United States 541
Department of Defense coverage for such services is available or such 542
member is not eligible for such services through the United States 543
Department of Defense, until an approved application is received from 544
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and coverage is 545
available to such member and such member's dependents. 546
Sec. 28. Subsection (b) of section 20-327f of the general statutes is 547
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 548
1, 2022): 549
(b) With respect to a contract for the sale of a one-to-four family 550
residential real property, if the seller provides written notice to the 551
purchaser, prior to, or upon, entering into the contract, of the availability 552
of information concerning environmental matters from the [federal] 553 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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United States Environmental Protection Agency, the National Response 554
Center, the United States Department of Defense and third-party 555
providers, the seller and any real estate licensee shall be deemed to have 556
fully satisfied any duty to disclose environmental matters concerning 557
properties other than the property that is the subject of the contract. 558
Sec. 29. Subsection (b) of section 22a-337 of the general statutes is 559
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 560
1, 2022): 561
(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection is 562
designated as the shore erosion agency of the state for the purpose of 563
cooperating with the Beach Erosion Board of the United States 564
Department of Defense, as provided for in Section 2 of the "River and 565
Harbor Act" adopted by Congress and approved July 3, 1930, and 566
known as H.R. Number 11781 of the second session of the 71st Congress. 567
Said commissioner shall carry out investigations and studies of 568
conditions along the shore line, harbors, rivers and islands within the 569
territorial waters of the state in order to promote and encourage the 570
healthful recreation of its citizens and with a view to devising and 571
projecting economical and effective methods and works for preventing 572
and correcting shore erosion and damage to public and private property 573
therefrom and to prevent inundation of improved property by storms, 574
erosion and ravages of the sea. 575
Sec. 30. Section 5-224 of the general statutes is repealed and the 576
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 577
Any veteran who served in time of war, if such veteran is not eligible 578
for disability compensation or pension from the [United States] United 579
States Department of Veterans Affairs, or the spouse of such veteran 580
who by reason of such veteran's disability is unable to pursue gainful 581
employment, or the unmarried surviving spouse of such veteran, and if 582
such person has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any 583
examination held for an original appointment for the purpose of 584
establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance with 585 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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subsection (d) of section 5-228, shall have five points added to his or her 586
earned rating. Any such veteran, or the spouse of such veteran who by 587
reason of such veteran's disability is unable to pursue gainful 588
employment, or the unmarried surviving spouse of such veteran, if such 589
person is eligible for such disability compensation or pension and if 590
such person has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any 591
such examination held for an original appointment for the purpose of 592
establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance with 593
subsection (d) of section 5-228, shall have ten points added to his or her 594
earned rating. Any veteran who has served in a military action for which 595
such person received or was entitled to receive a campaign badge or 596
expeditionary medal, shall have five points added to his or her earned 597
rating if such person has attained at least the minimum earned rating on 598
any such examination held for an original appointment for the purpose 599
of establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance with 600
subsection (d) of section 5-228 and such person is not otherwise eligible 601
to receive additional points pursuant to this section. Any person who is 602
a member of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, as amended 603
by this act, and who is in the final year of an enlistment contract with 604
any branch of the armed forces shall have five points added to his or her 605
earned rating if such person has attained at least the minimum earned 606
rating on any such examination held for an original appointment for the 607
purpose of establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance 608
with subsection (d) of section 5-228. Names of any such persons shall be 609
placed upon the candidate lists in the order of such augmented ratings. 610
Credits shall be based upon examinations with a possible rating of one 611
hundred points. 612
Sec. 31. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a working 613
group to (1) evaluate state property tax exemptions, abatements and 614
other relief granted to veterans, (2) make recommendations concerning 615
whether any such state veterans property tax relief should be adjusted 616
to more effectively align with the intent, at time of enactment, for such 617
relief, and (3) create a list of municipalities in the state that have enacted 618
local veterans property tax relief and specify the nature of such relief in 619 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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each such municipality. 620
(b) The working group shall consist of the following members: 621
(1) The chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General 622
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to military and 623
veterans' affairs; 624
(2) The vice-chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the 625
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to military and 626
veterans' affairs; and 627
(3) The ranking members of the joint standing committee of the 628
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to military and 629
veterans' affairs. 630
(c) Not later than January 1, 2023, the working group shall submit a 631
report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing 632
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 633
relating to military and veterans' affairs and planning and development, 634
in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 635
The working group shall terminate on the date that it submits such 636
report or January 1, 2023, whichever is later. 637
Sec. 32. (Effective from passage) Not later than September 1, 2022, the 638
Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the joint standing 639
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 640
relating to veterans' affairs, in accordance with the provisions of section 641
11-4a of the general statutes, recommendations for improvements 642
regarding municipal veterans' representatives, as described in 643
subsection (b) of section 27-135 of the general statutes, to ensure 644
consistent, effective and efficient provision of services to veterans, as 645
defined in section 27-103 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, 646
throughout the state.647 Substitute Bill No. 5367
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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2022 14-20d(a) and (b)
Sec. 2 October 1, 2022 27-103(a) to (c)
Sec. 3 October 1, 2022 27-118
Sec. 4 October 1, 2022 27-82
Sec. 5 October 1, 2022 27-86
Sec. 6 October 1, 2022 27-102m
Sec. 7 October 1, 2022 27-106
Sec. 8 October 1, 2022 27-109
Sec. 9 October 1, 2022 27-119a
Sec. 10 October 1, 2022 27-120
Sec. 11 October 1, 2022 27-121
Sec. 12 October 1, 2022 27-122b(b)
Sec. 13 October 1, 2022 27-125
Sec. 14 October 1, 2022 27-117
Sec. 15 October 1, 2022 27-24(c)
Sec. 16 October 1, 2022 27-25
Sec. 17 October 1, 2022 27-31
Sec. 18 October 1, 2022 27-102o
Sec. 19 October 1, 2022 27-102p
Sec. 20 October 1, 2022 27-122a(c)
Sec. 21 October 1, 2022 51-49h(c)
Sec. 22 October 1, 2022 27-20(a)
Sec. 23 October 1, 2022 27-49
Sec. 24 October 1, 2022 1-219(d)
Sec. 25 October 1, 2022 8-106(a)
Sec. 26 October 1, 2022 14-36h(b)
Sec. 27 October 1, 2022 17a-453d
Sec. 28 October 1, 2022 20-327f(b)
Sec. 29 October 1, 2022 22a-337(b)
Sec. 30 October 1, 2022 5-224
Sec. 31 from passage New section
Sec. 32 from passage New section
Substitute Bill No. 5367
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Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Sec. 2(a)(4), "December 31, 2011, and June 1, 2014" was changed to
"December 31, 2011, or June 1, 2014" for consistency; and in Sec. 2(c)(3),
"with" was changed to "within" for accuracy.
VA Joint Favorable Subst.