Connecticut 2022 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00339 Compare Versions

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

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6	6	LCO No. 2291 1 of 19
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8	8	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 339
9	9	February Session, 2022
10	10	LCO No. 2291
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13	13	Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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15	15
16	16	Introduced by:
17	17	(VA)
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22	22	AN ACT CONCERNING THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS'
23	23	RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MINOR AND TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO
24	24	STATUTES RELATED TO VETERANS' AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
25	25	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
26	26	Assembly convened:
27	27
28	28	Section 1. Section 27-118 of the 2022 supplement to the general 1
29	29	statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
30	30	(Effective October 1, 2022): 3
31	31	(a) When any veteran or member, as those terms are defined in 4
32	32	subsection [(e)] (g) of this section, dies, not having sufficient estate to 5
33	33	pay the necessary expenses of the veteran's or member's last sickness 6
34	34	and funeral expenses, as determined by the [commissioner] 7
35	35	Commissioner of Veterans Affairs after consultation with the probate 8
36	36	court for the district in which the veteran or member resided, the state 9
37	37	shall pay the sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars toward such 10
38	38	funeral expenses. 11
39	39	(b) Burial shall be in [some] a cemetery or plot not used exclusively 12
40	40	for the burial of the pauper dead. 13
41	41	LCO No. 2291 2 of 19
42	42
43	43	(c) No amount shall be paid for funeral expenses unless claim therefor 14
44	44	is made [within one year from] not later than one year after the date of 15
45	45	death, except that in cases of death occurring abroad [,] such claim may 16
46	46	be made within one year after the remains of [such] the veteran or 17
47	47	member have been interred in this country. No provision of this section 18
48	48	shall prevent the payment of the sum under subsection (a) of this section 19
49	49	for funeral expenses on account of the burial of [such] the veteran or 20
50	50	member being made outside the limits of this state. 21
51	51	(d) Upon satisfactory proof to the commissioner, by the person who 22
52	52	has paid or provided for the funeral expenses [to the commissioner] of 23
53	53	a deceased veteran, of the identity of the [deceased] veteran, the time 24
54	54	and place of the [deceased's] veteran's death and burial and the 25
55	55	approval thereof by the commissioner, the sum under subsection (a) of 26
56	56	this section shall be paid by the Comptroller to [the] such person who 27
57	57	has paid or provided for the funeral expenses. 28
58	58	(e) (1) Upon satisfactory proof to the commissioner, by the person 29
59	59	who has paid or provided for the funeral [or burial expense to the 30
60	60	commissioner] expenses of a deceased member, of the identity of the 31
61	61	[deceased] member, the time and place of the [deceased] member's 32
62	62	death and burial and the approval thereof by the commissioner, the sum 33
63	63	[of one thousand eight hundred dollars] under subsection (a) of this 34
64	64	section shall be paid by the Comptroller to the person who has paid or 35
65	65	provided for the funeral [or burial expense, or upon assignment by such 36
66	66	person, to the funeral director who has provided the funeral] expenses. 37
67	67	(2) The person who has paid or provided for the funeral [or burial 38
68	68	expense] expenses of a deceased member shall provide to the 39
69	69	commissioner (A) an affidavit stating (i) when the [deceased] member 40
70	70	served, (ii) where the [deceased] member served, (iii) the unit in which 41
71	71	the [deceased] member served, and (iv) the capacity in which the 42
72	72	[deceased] member served; (B) any available corroborating witness 43
73	73	affidavits; (C) any available official documentation of service; and (D) 44
74	74	any other documents supporting the affidavit. 45
75	75	(f) Whenever the Comptroller has lawfully paid any sum toward the 46
76	76	LCO No. 2291 3 of 19
77	77
78	78	funeral expenses of any deceased veteran or member and it afterwards 47
79	79	appears that the [deceased] veteran or member left any estate, the 48
80	80	Comptroller may present a claim on behalf of the state against the estate 49
81	81	of such [deceased] veteran or member for the sum so paid, and the claim 50
82	82	shall be a preferred claim against such estate and shall be paid to the 51
83	83	Treasurer. [of the state.] The commissioner, upon the advice of the 52
84	84	Attorney General, may make application for administration upon the 53
85	85	estate of any such [deceased] veteran or member if no other person 54
86	86	authorized by law makes such application within sixty days after such 55
87	87	payment has been made by the Comptroller. 56
88	88	(g) As used in this section, (1) "veteran" has the same meaning as 57
89	89	provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act, (2) "member" means 58
90	90	any person who served in the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units, 59
91	91	which units served in the United States secret war in the Kingdom of 60
92	92	Laos during the Vietnam War, and (3) "funeral expenses" means (A) the 61
93	93	cash advances paid by the funeral director and the cost of funeral 62
94	94	services and funeral merchandise, (B) the cost of burial, cremation or 63
95	95	disposition, and (C) the cost of publication of an obituary. "Funeral 64
96	96	merchandise" includes, but is not limited to, alternative containers, 65
97	97	caskets, urns, vaults and outer burial containers. 66
98	98	Sec. 2. Section 27-82 of the general statutes is repealed and the 67
99	99	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 68
100	100	The [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs is authorized 69
101	101	to administer the separation allowances provided for by this chapter 70
102	102	and enforce the provisions relating thereto. The commissioner shall 71
103	103	determine the amount of such separation allowances to be paid and 72
104	104	shall certify to the Comptroller the amounts to be paid monthly. The 73
105	105	Comptroller shall draw his orders on the Treasurer in payment thereof. 74
106	106	The commissioner may apply the provisions of sections 27-80 to 27-85, 75
107	107	inclusive, to any person who enters the military or naval service of the 76
108	108	United States through the provisions of any system of selective draft 77
109	109	adopted by the federal government. 78
110	110	Sec. 3. Section 27-86 of the general statutes is repealed and the 79
111	111	LCO No. 2291 4 of 19
112	112
113	113	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 80
114	114	Whenever the provisions of this chapter relating to separation 81
115	115	allowances become operative through the calling of the National Guard 82
116	116	or other forces into active service, the [commissioner] Commissioner of 83
117	117	Veterans Affairs shall pay such allowances as are to be paid out of any 84
118	118	funds which the state may have available for such purposes and, if no 85
119	119	funds are available, the State Treasurer is authorized to borrow, in the 86
120	120	name of the state, on notes, such funds as are necessary to administer 87
121	121	such provisions. In either case said commissioner shall certify to the 88
122	122	General Assembly at its next regular session the amount expended, or, 89
123	123	if such provisions are at that time operative, shall certify to the amount 90
124	124	expended under them up to and including the first Wednesday of 91
125	125	December preceding the convening of the General Assembly, and in 92
126	126	either case the General Assembly shall appropriate sufficient funds to 93
127	127	cover such expenditures; and, in the event of the existence of 94
128	128	circumstances making such provisions still operative, the General 95
129	129	Assembly shall take the necessary steps to provide for the requisite 96
130	130	expense. 97
131	131	Sec. 4. Section 27-102m of the general statutes is repealed and the 98
132	132	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 99
133	133	The [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, in his or her 100
134	134	discretion, shall investigate all complaints made to the commissioner 101
135	135	with respect to the conduct or treatment of veterans, their spouses, or 102
136	136	eligible dependents and family members receiving services under this 103
137	137	chapter, or any program administered by the [department] Department 104
138	138	of Veterans Affairs and for such purpose shall have power to compel 105
139	139	the attendance of witnesses under oath. If upon the completion of such 106
140	140	investigation, the commissioner finds that any veteran, spouse or 107
141	141	eligible dependent has not received proper care or has been ill treated 108
142	142	or abused by any officer or employee, the commissioner shall, in his or 109
143	143	her discretion, cause the offender to be prosecuted, disciplined or 110
144	144	dismissed and shall order such remedial action as the commissioner 111
145	145	deems necessary to eliminate the condition. If upon such investigation, 112
146	146	LCO No. 2291 5 of 19
147	147
148	148	the commissioner finds that no adequate grounds exist for such 113
149	149	complaint, the commissioner shall certify that fact to the officer or 114
150	150	employee involved and cause such officer's or employee's record to be 115
151	151	cleared of the incident. 116
152	152	Sec. 5. Section 27-106 of the general statutes is repealed and the 117
153	153	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 118
154	154	(a) The [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall adopt 119
155	155	and enforce such rules as may be necessary to ensure order, enforce 120
156	156	discipline and preserve the health and ensure the comfort of the 121
157	157	residents in the Veterans Residential Services facility and patients in the 122
158	158	Healthcare Center, and shall discipline or dismiss any officer or resident 123
159	159	of said facility or patient in the Healthcare Center who violates such 124
160	160	rules. The commissioner shall (1) appoint, subject to the provisions of 125
161	161	chapter 67, such officers and employees as are necessary for the 126
162	162	administration of the affairs of said facility and the Healthcare Center, 127
163	163	(2) prescribe the relative rank, if any, of such officers and employees, 128
164	164	and (3) commission each such officer, who shall wear such uniform, if 129
165	165	any, as is prescribed by the commissioner. 130
166	166	(b) The chief fiscal officer shall submit a semiannual plain language 131
167	167	report to each resident of the Veterans Residential Services facility and 132
168	168	patient of the Healthcare Center detailing the manner in which the 133
169	169	institutional general welfare fund was used over the previous six 134
170	170	months to directly benefit veterans, said facility or the Healthcare 135
171	171	Center. Such report shall include a prominently displayed statement 136
172	172	encouraging residents to submit suggestions for projects to be funded 137
173	173	by the institutional general welfare fund and a form for such 138
174	174	submissions. 139
175	175	(c) The chief fiscal officer shall submit an itemized list of expenditures 140
176	176	made from the institutional general welfare fund to the commissioner 141
177	177	at intervals not greater than two months. Such list shall include all such 142
178	178	expenditures made during the two-month period preceding its 143
179	179	submission. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-56, the 144
180	180	commissioner shall prescribe procedures to limit and specify the uses 145
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183	183	for which expenditures may be made from the institutional general 146
184	184	welfare fund so that only expenditures that, in the opinion of the 147
185	185	commissioner and the [board of trustees] Board of Trustees for the 148
186	186	[department] Department of Veterans Affairs appointed pursuant to 149
187	187	section 27-102n, directly benefit veterans, the Veterans Residential 150
188	188	Services facility or the Healthcare Center are permitted. 151
189	189	(d) In addition to the estimate of expenditure requirements required 152
190	190	under section 4-77, the commissioner shall submit an accounting of all 153
191	191	planned expenditures for the next fiscal year from the institutional 154
192	192	general welfare fund to the joint standing committee of the General 155
193	193	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and 156
194	194	the budgets of state agencies at the time such estimate is submitted. 157
195	195	(e) The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall annually hold suitable 158
196	196	exercises in the Veterans Residential Services facility on November 159
197	197	eleventh recognizing resident veterans for their military service. 160
198	198	Sec. 6. Section 27-109 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 161
199	199	is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 162
200	200	October 1, 2022): 163
201	201	Any hospital, upon request of the [commissioner] Commissioner of 164
202	202	Veterans Affairs, shall furnish any veteran, determined by the 165
203	203	commissioner to be entitled to admission thereto, necessary food, 166
204	204	clothing, care and treatment therein at the expense of the state, unless 167
205	205	other funds or means of payment are available, and such veteran shall 168
206	206	have preference for admission into such hospital. As used in this section, 169
207	207	"veteran" has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as 170
208	208	amended by this act. 171
209	209	Sec. 7. Section 27-119a of the general statutes is repealed and the 172
210	210	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 173
211	211	The [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall, upon 174
212	212	application made by the chief executive authority of the town, city or 175
213	213	borough wherein the deceased is buried, cause a metal marker and flag 176
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215	215
216	216	holder to be placed on the grave of any person who, in time of war, 177
217	217	served in the military or naval forces of the English colonies in America, 178
218	218	prior to 1776, or who served in the military or naval forces of the United 179
219	219	States in the Revolutionary War, which grave is not so marked. 180
220	220	Sec. 8. Section 27-120 of the general statutes is repealed and the 181
221	221	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 182
222	222	If any person who, in time of war, served in the military or naval 183
223	223	forces of the English colonies in America, prior to 1776, or of the state of 184
224	224	Connecticut or in the armed forces of the United States, and was 185
225	225	credited to said colonies, state or the United States, died during such 186
226	226	service of disease or wounds, or was killed in action, died in prison or 187
227	227	was lost at sea, and whose body was never brought home for interment, 188
228	228	or who was reported missing in action and has not been heard from, the 189
229	229	[commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall, upon proper 190
230	230	application, with satisfactory proof, made by the chief executive 191
231	231	authority of the municipality of which the deceased was a resident, as 192
232	232	to his identity and honorable service, cause to be erected in any cemetery 193
233	233	or public place in such municipality, at a cost to the state of not more 194
234	234	than fifty dollars, a marker or soldier's headstone, having inscribed 195
235	235	thereon the name of such person, the organization to which he 196
236	236	belonged, and the place of his death or burial or when he was reported 197
237	237	as missing in action or lost at sea. 198
238	238	Sec. 9. Section 27-121 of the general statutes is repealed and the 199
239	239	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 200
240	240	If the chief executive authority of any municipality which had as 201
241	241	residents several veterans who were killed or lost as described in section 202
242	242	27-120, as amended by this act, and to whose memory markers or 203
243	243	headstones have not already been erected, prefers a memorial stone or 204
244	244	plaque with the names of all such veterans inscribed thereon, erected in 205
245	245	a public place or cemetery in such municipality, the [commissioner] 206
246	246	Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall cause such a suitable memorial 207
247	247	to be erected in such municipality, which memorial shall be of such 208
248	248	design and material and of such cost as the commissioner determines. If 209
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251	251	any municipality, organization or person contributes toward the 210
252	252	erection of such memorial, the location of the same shall be determined 211
253	253	by the commissioner and a committee of two persons appointed by the 212
254	254	municipality, organization or individuals making such contribution. 213
255	255	Any such memorial may include the names of any veterans who died or 214
256	256	were killed in action as described in [said] section 27-120 and whose 215
257	257	bodies have been brought home for interment whenever the 216
258	258	municipality wherein such memorial is to be erected, or any 217
259	259	organization or person, agrees with the commissioner to share 218
260	260	proportionately the cost of erecting such memorial. 219
261	261	Sec. 10. Subsection (b) of section 27-122b of the 2022 supplement to 220
262	262	the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 221
263	263	thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 222
264	264	(b) (1) Any veteran may, by letter or other communication addressed 223
265	265	to the [commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, or by will, 224
266	266	request that upon his or her death his or her body be buried in a 225
267	267	veterans' cemetery established pursuant to section 27-122a, as amended 226
268	268	by this act, or (2) the spouse or other next of kin may apply to the 227
269	269	commissioner to have the body of such veteran buried in said veterans' 228
270	270	cemetery, and in either case such request shall be granted. 229
271	271	Sec. 11. Section 27-125 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 230
272	272	is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 231
273	273	October 1, 2022): 232
274	274	Any veteran who is a citizen of this state and who, through disability 233
275	275	or other causes incident to service in the armed forces in time of war, is 234
276	276	in need of temporary financial assistance may be provided for by the 235
277	277	[commissioner] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs by a method similar 236
278	278	to that provided in section 27-82, as amended by this act, the amount 237
279	279	and continuance of such assistance to be discretionary with the 238
280	280	commissioner. The widow, widower and each child, parent, brother or 239
281	281	sister of any member of the armed forces, who died while in such active 240
282	282	service, may be assisted by the commissioner if such person or persons 241
283	283	are without sufficient means of support by reason of the death of such 242
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285	285
286	286	member of the armed forces. In carrying out his or her duties under the 243
287	287	provisions of this section, the commissioner is directed to cooperate 244
288	288	with such federal agencies as may aid in securing prompt and suitable 245
289	289	treatment, care and relief of any such member of the armed forces or his 246
290	290	or her dependents. The records of the agencies of the state shall be 247
291	291	placed at the disposal of the commissioner and such agencies are 248
292	292	directed to cooperate with and to assist the commissioner in carrying 249
293	293	out his or her duties. As used in this section, "veteran" has the same 250
294	294	meaning as provided in section 27-103, as amended by this act. 251
295	295	Sec. 12. Section 27-117 of the general statutes is repealed and the 252
296	296	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 253
297	297	Any person who has in his or her possession or control any property 254
298	298	of any person applying for or receiving aid from the Soldiers, Sailors 255
299	299	and Marines Fund or the [department] Department of Veterans Affairs, 256
300	300	or who is indebted to such applicant or recipient or has knowledge of 257
301	301	any property belonging to him or her, and any officer who has control 258
302	302	of the books and accounts of any corporation which has possession or 259
303	303	control of any property belonging to any person applying for or 260
304	304	receiving such aid or is indebted to him or her, shall, upon presentation 261
305	305	by the disbursing officer thereof or any person deputized by him or her 262
306	306	of a certificate signed by him or her, stating that such applicant or 263
307	307	recipient has applied for or is receiving aid from said fund or the 264
308	308	department, make full disclosure to such disbursing officer or deputy of 265
309	309	any such property or indebtedness. Such disclosure may be obtained in 266
310	310	like manner of the property or indebtedness of any person liable for the 267
311	311	support of any such applicant or recipient. 268
312	312	Sec. 13. Subsection (c) of section 27-24 of the general statutes is 269
313	313	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 270
314	314	1, 2022): 271
315	315	(c) The Adjutant General shall designate either the assistant adjutant 272
316	316	general for the Connecticut Army National Guard or the assistant 273
317	317	adjutant general for the Connecticut Air National Guard to serve as 274
318	318	administrative assistant and deputy to the Adjutant General and as 275
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320	320
321	321	deputy chief of staff to the Governor. Such assistant adjutant general (1) 276
322	322	shall perform all of the duties of the Adjutant General in his absence, 277
323	323	during his inability or by his direction and (2) shall devote all of his time, 278
324	324	during the office hours of the [department] Military Department, to the 279
325	325	duties of his office. The assistant adjutant general not so designated shall 280
326	326	perform such duties, consistent with his grade and position, as the 281
327	327	Adjutant General shall direct. 282
328	328	Sec. 14. Section 27-25 of the general statutes is repealed and the 283
329	329	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 284
330	330	The Adjutant General shall appoint a property and procurement 285
331	331	officer who shall be the assistant of the Adjutant General in the care of 286
332	332	all military property and who shall hold office at the pleasure of the 287
333	333	Adjutant General. He shall devote all of his time, during the office hours 288
334	334	of the [department] Military Department, to the duties of his office. 289
335	335	Sec. 15. Section 27-31 of the general statutes is repealed and the 290
336	336	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 291
337	337	The Adjutant General shall appoint such number of employees, 292
338	338	subject to the provisions of chapter 67 and section 4-40, as may be 293
339	339	required to perform adequately the duties required of the [department] 294
340	340	Military Department. Employees in the [Military Department] 295
341	341	department, not in the classified service, shall serve [during] at the 296
342	342	pleasure of the Adjutant General and shall perform such duties as may 297
343	343	be assigned to them. 298
344	344	Sec. 16. Section 27-102o of the general statutes is repealed and the 299
345	345	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 300
346	346	The Department of [Veterans'] Veterans Affairs may, subject to any 301
347	347	limitations otherwise imposed by law, receive and accept on behalf of 302
348	348	the state any funds that may be offered or that may become available 303
349	349	from federal grants or appropriations, private gifts, donations or 304
350	350	bequests, or any other source and may expend such funds for the 305
351	351	purpose of financing, in whole or in part and on behalf of the state, the 306
352	352	LCO No. 2291 11 of 19
353	353
354	354	construction of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at 307
355	355	Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. 308
356	356	Sec. 17. Section 27-102p of the general statutes is repealed and the 309
357	357	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 310
358	358	(a) Not later than July 15, 2007, and annually thereafter, each state 311
359	359	agency or municipality that provides benefits to veterans, as defined in 312
360	360	section 27-103, as amended by this act, shall submit a report to the 313
361	361	Commissioner of [Veterans'] Veterans Affairs that includes a 314
362	362	description of each type of benefit provided to veterans, the value of 315
363	363	such benefit and the number of veterans to whom such benefit was 316
364	364	provided, for the twelve-month period ending on June thirtieth of the 317
365	365	same year. The commissioner shall compile the data in such report. 318
366	366	(b) Not later than August 1, 2007, and annually thereafter, the 319
367	367	Commissioner of [Veterans'] Veterans Affairs shall submit a report of 320
368	368	the data compiled pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, for the 321
369	369	twelve-month period ending on June thirtieth of the same year, to the 322
370	370	Military Department and the joint standing committee of the General 323
371	371	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety, in 324
372	372	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such report shall 325
373	373	specify the total number of veterans receiving benefits and the value of 326
374	374	such benefits by category of benefit and in total for such period. 327
375	375	Sec. 18. Subsection (c) of section 27-122a of the general statutes is 328
376	376	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 329
377	377	1, 2022): 330
378	378	(c) The land transferred to the commission under subsections (a) and 331
379	379	(b) of this section and not transferred to the Commissioner of Mental 332
380	380	Health and Addiction Services and the Connecticut Valley Hospital 333
381	381	shall be used by the Commissioner of [Veterans'] Veterans Affairs for 334
382	382	the establishment and maintenance of a veterans' cemetery. 335
383	383	Sec. 19. Subsection (b) of section 14-20d of the 2022 supplement to the 336
384	384	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 337
385	385	LCO No. 2291 12 of 19
386	386
387	387	thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 338
388	388	(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, at the request of any 339
389	389	veteran or member of the armed forces who received a campaign medal, 340
390	390	issue special registration marker plates to indicate service during a 341
391	391	period of war. Such plates shall bear the words "(Name of War) Veteran" 342
392	392	and shall be designed in consultation with the Commissioner of 343
393	393	[Veteran] Veterans Affairs. The plates shall expire and be renewed as 344
394	394	provided in section 14-22. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall 345
395	395	charge a fee for such plates, which fee shall cover the entire cost of 346
396	396	making such plates and shall be in addition to the fee for registration of 347
397	397	such motor vehicle. No use shall be made of such plates except as official 348
398	398	registration marker plates. 349
399	399	Sec. 20. Subsection (c) of section 51-49h of the 2022 supplement to the 350
400	400	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 351
401	401	thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 352
402	402	(c) For purposes of this section: (1) "Armed forces" means the United 353
403	403	States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force; (2) 354
404	404	"veteran" has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103, as 355
405	405	amended by this act; and (3) "military service" shall be service during 356
406	406	World War II, December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946; the Korean 357
407	407	hostilities, June 27, 1950, to October 27, 1953; and the Vietnam era, 358
408	408	January 1, 1964, to July 1, 1975, and shall include service as a prisoner of 359
409	409	war. 360
410	410	Sec. 21. Subsection (c) of section 27-103 of the 2022 supplement to the 361
411	411	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 362
412	412	thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 363
413	413	(c) Not later than October 1, 2021, the Commissioner of Veterans 364
414	414	Affairs shall establish a Qualifying Review Board, which shall review 365
415	415	applications of veterans submitted under subsection (d) of this section. 366
416	416	Said board shall be part of the Executive Department and shall consist 367
417	417	of five voting members who, by education or experience, shall be 368
418	418	knowledgeable of veterans benefits and programs and who shall have a 369
419	419	LCO No. 2291 13 of 19
420	420
421	421	demonstrated interest in the concerns of veterans. A majority of the 370
422	422	members of the board shall be veterans. 371
423	423	(1) The membership of the board shall consist of the following 372
424	424	members: 373
425	425	(A) One member appointed by the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs 374
426	426	in consultation with the chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the 375
427	427	Department of Veterans Affairs, [Board of Trustees,] who shall be a 376
428	428	member of said board; 377
429	429	(B) The manager of the Office of Advocacy and Assistance within the 378
430	430	Department of Veterans Affairs, [Office of Advocacy and Assistance,] or 379
431	431	the manager's designee; and 380
432	432	(C) Three members appointed by the Commissioner of Veterans 381
433	433	Affairs. 382
434	434	(2) All initial appointments to the board shall be made not later than 383
435	435	December 1, 2021, and shall terminate on November 31, 2023, or 384
436	436	November 31, 2024, as applicable, regardless of when the initial 385
437	437	appointment was made. Any member of the board may serve more than 386
438	438	one term. 387
439	439	(3) Members first appointed shall have the following terms: (A) The 388
440	440	member of the Board of Trustees for the Department of Veterans Affairs 389
441	441	[Board of Trustees] and the manager of the Office of Advocacy and 390
442	442	Assistance within the Department of Veterans Affairs, [Office of 391
443	443	Advocacy and Assistance,] or the manager's designee, shall initially 392
444	444	serve a term of three years, and (B) the three members appointed by the 393
445	445	Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall initially serve a term of two 394
446	446	years. Members shall serve a term of four years thereafter. Members 395
447	447	shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed. 396
448	448	(4) Any vacancy shall be filled by the Commissioner of Veterans 397
449	449	Affairs. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be 398
450	450	filled for the balance of the unexpired term. 399
451	451	LCO No. 2291 14 of 19
452	452
453	453	(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of section 4-9a, 400
454	454	the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall select the chairperson of the 401
455	455	board from among the members of the board. Such chairperson shall 402
456	456	schedule the first meeting of the board, which shall be held not later 403
457	457	than January 1, 2022. 404
458	458	(6) A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the 405
459	459	transaction of any business. 406
460	460	(7) The members of the board shall serve without compensation. 407
461	461	(8) The board shall meet at least monthly or as often as deemed 408
462	462	necessary by the chairperson based on the number of applications 409
463	463	pending before the board. 410
464	464	Sec. 22. Subsection (a) of section 27-20 of the general statutes is 411
465	465	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 412
466	466	1, 2022): 413
467	467	(a) The Adjutant General shall make such returns and reports to such 414
468	468	officers as may be prescribed by the United States Department of 415
469	469	Defense in regulations pertaining to the National Guard, at such times 416
470	470	and in such form as prescribed. The Adjutant General shall (1) keep the 417
471	471	service records of all officers and enlisted personnel, (2) issue authorized 418
472	472	service medals, ribbons and documents, (3) (A) generate and maintain 419
473	473	all records and documents required by state law or regulations 420
474	474	thereunder, and (B) process requests for such records pursuant to the 421
475	475	state Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, and (4) 422
476	476	(A) generate and maintain all records and documents required by 423
477	477	federal law or regulations thereunder, and (B) process requests for such 424
478	478	records pursuant to the federal Freedom of Information Act of 1976, 5 425
479	479	USC 552, as amended from time to time. 426
480	480	Sec. 23. Section 27-49 of the general statutes is repealed and the 427
481	481	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 428
482	482	Officers of the National Guard and naval militia shall be appointed 429
483	483	by the Governor, subject to the procedure prescribed in regulations of 430
484	484	LCO No. 2291 15 of 19
485	485
486	486	the United States Department of Defense relating to the National Guard 431
487	487	and naval militia. The rule of seniority shall be followed when 432
488	488	practicable. Only such officers shall be commissioned in the National 433
489	489	Guard and naval militia as have successfully passed the tests and 434
490	490	examinations as to physical, moral and professional fitness prescribed 435
491	491	by the laws and regulations of the United States relating to the 436
492	492	qualifications of National Guard or naval militia officers. Officers of the 437
493	493	organized militia, as provided for in section 27-2, shall be appointed in 438
494	494	accordance with regulations approved by the Governor. 439
495	495	Sec. 24. Subsection (d) of section 1-219 of the general statutes is 440
496	496	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 441
497	497	1, 2022): 442
498	498	(d) The provisions of this section concerning the maintenance and 443
499	499	recording of United States Department of Defense documents shall not 444
500	500	apply to the State Library Board or the State Librarian. 445
501	501	Sec. 25. Subsection (a) of section 8-106 of the general statutes is 446
502	502	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 447
503	503	1, 2022): 448
504	504	(a) "Persons engaged in national defense activities" includes persons 449
505	505	in the military service of the United States; employees of the United 450
506	506	States Department of Defense; and workers engaged or to be engaged 451
507	507	in activities connected with and essential to national defense; and 452
508	508	includes the families of the aforesaid persons who are living with them. 453
509	509	Sec. 26. Subsection (b) of section 14-36h of the 2022 supplement to the 454
510	510	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 455
511	511	thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 456
512	512	(b) If any person does not reside in any state, territory or possession 457
513	513	of the United States because such person is on active military duty with 458
514	514	the United States Armed Forces, and such person's home state of record 459
515	515	is Connecticut, as reflected in the records of the United States 460
516	516	Department of Defense, United States Department of Homeland 461
517	517	LCO No. 2291 16 of 19
518	518
519	519	Security or any federal department under which the United States Coast 462
520	520	Guard operates, such person may obtain a Connecticut operator's 463
521	521	license or identity card, provided such person: (1) Does not have an 464
522	522	operator's license or identity card issued by another state, territory or 465
523	523	possession of the United States, or surrenders any such license or 466
524	524	identity card; (2) has a current APO or FPO mailing address; (3) 467
525	525	designates such person's home address as 60 State Street, Wethersfield, 468
526	526	CT 06161; and (4) meets all other requirements for obtaining an 469
527	527	operator's license or identity card in this state. 470
528	528	Sec. 27. Section 17a-453d of the general statutes is repealed and the 471
529	529	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 472
530	530	The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in 473
531	531	collaboration with the Department of Children and Families and the 474
532	532	Department of Veterans Affairs, shall provide behavioral health 475
533	533	services, on a transitional basis, for the dependents and any member of 476
534	534	any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States who has 477
535	535	been called to active service in the armed forces of the state or the United 478
536	536	States for Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. 479
537	537	Such transitional services shall be provided when no United States 480
538	538	Department of Defense coverage for such services is available or such 481
539	539	member is not eligible for such services through the United States 482
540	540	Department of Defense, until an approved application is received from 483
541	541	the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and coverage is 484
542	542	available to such member and such member's dependents. 485
543	543	Sec. 28. Subsection (b) of section 20-327f of the general statutes is 486
544	544	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 487
545	545	1, 2022): 488
546	546	(b) With respect to a contract for the sale of a one-to-four family 489
547	547	residential real property, if the seller provides written notice to the 490
548	548	purchaser, prior to, or upon, entering into the contract, of the availability 491
549	549	of information concerning environmental matters from the [federal] 492
550	550	United States Environmental Protection Agency, the National Response 493
551	551	Center, the United States Department of Defense and third-party 494
552	552	LCO No. 2291 17 of 19
553	553
554	554	providers, the seller and any real estate licensee shall be deemed to have 495
555	555	fully satisfied any duty to disclose environmental matters concerning 496
556	556	properties other than the property that is the subject of the contract. 497
557	557	Sec. 29. Subsection (b) of section 22a-337 of the general statutes is 498
558	558	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 499
559	559	1, 2022): 500
560	560	(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection is 501
561	561	designated as the shore erosion agency of the state for the purpose of 502
562	562	cooperating with the Beach Erosion Board of the United States 503
563	563	Department of Defense, as provided for in Section 2 of the "River and 504
564	564	Harbor Act" adopted by Congress and approved July 3, 1930, and 505
565	565	known as H.R. Number 11781 of the second session of the 71st Congress. 506
566	566	Said commissioner shall carry out investigations and studies of 507
567	567	conditions along the shore line, harbors, rivers and islands within the 508
568	568	territorial waters of the state in order to promote and encourage the 509
569	569	healthful recreation of its citizens and with a view to devising and 510
570	570	projecting economical and effective methods and works for preventing 511
571	571	and correcting shore erosion and damage to public and private property 512
572	572	therefrom and to prevent inundation of improved property by storms, 513
573	573	erosion and ravages of the sea. 514
574	574	Sec. 30. Section 5-224 of the general statutes is repealed and the 515
575	575	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 516
576	576	Any veteran who served in time of war, if such veteran is not eligible 517
577	577	for disability compensation or pension from the [United States] United 518
578	578	States Department of Veterans Affairs, or the spouse of such veteran 519
579	579	who by reason of such veteran's disability is unable to pursue gainful 520
580	580	employment, or the unmarried surviving spouse of such veteran, and if 521
581	581	such person has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any 522
582	582	examination held for an original appointment for the purpose of 523
583	583	establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance with 524
584	584	subsection (d) of section 5-228, shall have five points added to his or her 525
585	585	earned rating. Any such veteran, or the spouse of such veteran who by 526
586	586	reason of such veteran's disability is unable to pursue gainful 527
587	587	LCO No. 2291 18 of 19
588	588
589	589	employment, or the unmarried surviving spouse of such veteran, if such 528
590	590	person is eligible for such disability compensation or pension and if 529
591	591	such person has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any 530
592	592	such examination held for an original appointment for the purpose of 531
593	593	establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance with 532
594	594	subsection (d) of section 5-228, shall have ten points added to his or her 533
595	595	earned rating. Any veteran who has served in a military action for which 534
596	596	such person received or was entitled to receive a campaign badge or 535
597	597	expeditionary medal, shall have five points added to his or her earned 536
598	598	rating if such person has attained at least the minimum earned rating on 537
599	599	any such examination held for an original appointment for the purpose 538
600	600	of establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance with 539
601	601	subsection (d) of section 5-228 and such person is not otherwise eligible 540
602	602	to receive additional points pursuant to this section. Any person who is 541
603	603	a member of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, as amended 542
604	604	by this act, and who is in the final year of an enlistment contract with 543
605	605	any branch of the armed forces shall have five points added to his or her 544
606	606	earned rating if such person has attained at least the minimum earned 545
607	607	rating on any such examination held for an original appointment for the 546
608	608	purpose of establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance 547
609	609	with subsection (d) of section 5-228. Names of any such persons shall be 548
610	610	placed upon the candidate lists in the order of such augmented ratings. 549
611	611	Credits shall be based upon examinations with a possible rating of one 550
612	612	hundred points. 551
613	613	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
614	614	sections:
615	615
616	616	Section 1 October 1, 2022 27-118
617	617	Sec. 2 October 1, 2022 27-82
618	618	Sec. 3 October 1, 2022 27-86
619	619	Sec. 4 October 1, 2022 27-102m
620	620	Sec. 5 October 1, 2022 27-106
621	621	Sec. 6 October 1, 2022 27-109
622	622	Sec. 7 October 1, 2022 27-119a
623	623	Sec. 8 October 1, 2022 27-120
624	624	Sec. 9 October 1, 2022 27-121
625	625	LCO No. 2291 19 of 19
626	626
627	627	Sec. 10 October 1, 2022 27-122b(b)
628	628	Sec. 11 October 1, 2022 27-125
629	629	Sec. 12 October 1, 2022 27-117
630	630	Sec. 13 October 1, 2022 27-24(c)
631	631	Sec. 14 October 1, 2022 27-25
632	632	Sec. 15 October 1, 2022 27-31
633	633	Sec. 16 October 1, 2022 27-102o
634	634	Sec. 17 October 1, 2022 27-102p
635	635	Sec. 18 October 1, 2022 27-122a(c)
636	636	Sec. 19 October 1, 2022 14-20d(b)
637	637	Sec. 20 October 1, 2022 51-49h(c)
638	638	Sec. 21 October 1, 2022 27-103(c)
639	639	Sec. 22 October 1, 2022 27-20(a)
640	640	Sec. 23 October 1, 2022 27-49
641	641	Sec. 24 October 1, 2022 1-219(d)
642	642	Sec. 25 October 1, 2022 8-106(a)
643	643	Sec. 26 October 1, 2022 14-36h(b)
644	644	Sec. 27 October 1, 2022 17a-453d
645	645	Sec. 28 October 1, 2022 20-327f(b)
646	646	Sec. 29 October 1, 2022 22a-337(b)
647	647	Sec. 30 October 1, 2022 5-224
648	648
649	649	Statement of Purpose:
650	650	To make minor, conforming, clarifying and technical revisions to certain
651	651	veterans' and military affairs statutes.
652	652	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
653	653	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
654	654	underlined.]
655	655