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statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2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