Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00376 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	LCO 3600 1 of 13
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	4	+	LCO No. 3600 1 of 14
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5	6		General Assembly Committee Bill No. 376
6	7		January Session, 2025
7	8		LCO No. 3600
8	9
9	10
10	11		Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AND MILITARY
11	12		AFFAIRS
12	13
13	14
14	15		Introduced by:
15	16		(VA)
16	17
17	18
18	19
19	20		AN ACT ELIMINATING SERVICE IN TIME OF WAR AS AN ELIGIBILITY
20	21		CRITERION FOR CERTAIN STATE AND MUNICIPAL VETERANS'
21	22		BENEFITS.
22	23		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
23	24		Assembly convened:
24	25
25	26		Section 1. Subsection (d) of section 10a-77 of the general statutes is 1
26	27		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
27	28		2025): 3
28	29		(d) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition at any of 4
29	30		the regional community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent child 5
30	31		of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to 6
31	32		be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in 7
32	33		such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted 8
33	34		for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time 9
34	35		such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the 10
35	36		provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in 11
36	37		section 27-103, who [performed service in time of war, as defined in 12
37	38		section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in 13
38		-	time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military 14 Committee Bill No. 376
	39	+	time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military 14
	40	+	Committee Bill No. 376
39	41
40	42
41		-	LCO 3600 2 of 13
	43	+	LCO No. 3600 2 of 14
42	44
43	45		service academy, which veteran] has been accepted for admission to 15
44	46		such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is 16
45	47		accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the 17
46	48		state sixty-two years of age or older, provided, at the end of the regular 18
47	49		registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number 19
48	50		of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to 20
49	51		this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to 21
50	52		enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating 22
51	53		all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut State 23
52	54		Police Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said 24
53	55		academy offered in coordination with a regional community-technical 25
54	56		college which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active 26
55	57		member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has 27
56	58		been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's 28
57	59		designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled 29
58	60		or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time 30
59	61		basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program, (6) for any 31
60	62		dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or 32
61	63		supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in 33
62	64		section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 34
63	65		employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 35
64	66		the line of duty, (7) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child 36
65	67		or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of 37
66	68		this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was 38
67	69		killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 39
68	70		10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (9) for any resident of 40
69	71		the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who 41
70	72		was killed in action while performing active military duty with the 42
71	73		armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and 43
72	74		who was a resident of this state. If any person who receives a tuition 44
73	75		waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives 45
74	76		educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be 46
75	77		reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans 47
76	78		and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (5) of this 48
77		-	~~subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 49~~ Committee Bill No. 376
	79	+	Committee Bill No. 376
78	80
79	81
80		-	LCO 3600 3 of 13
	82	+	LCO No. 3600 3 of 14
81	83
	84	+	subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 49
82	85		tuition waivers in registering for courses at regional community-50
83	86		technical colleges. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as 51
84	87		used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for 52
85	88		less than one year. 53
86	89		Sec. 2. Subsection (d) of section 10a-99 of the general statutes is 54
87	90		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 55
88	91		2025): 56
89	92		(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 57
90	93		undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the Connecticut State 58
91	94		University System (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the 59
92	95		armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or 60
93	96		to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after 61
94	97		January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such 62
95	98		institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted 63
96	99		for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of 64
97	100		subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-65
98	101		103, who [performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 66
99	102		except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 67
100	103		not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 68
101	104		which veteran] has been accepted for admission to such institution and 69
102	105		is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for 70
103	106		admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two 71
104	107		years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to such 72
105	108		institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting 73
106	109		program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are 74
107	110		enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those 75
108	111		residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the 76
109	112		course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space 77
110	113		available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for 78
111	114		any student attending the Connecticut Police Academy who is enrolled 79
112	115		in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in coordination 80
113	116		with the university which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) 81
114		-	for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard 82
115		-	who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant 83 Committee Bill No. 376
	117	+	Committee Bill No. 376
116	118
117	119
118		-	LCO 3600 4 of 13
	120	+	LCO No. 3600 4 of 14
119	121
	122	+	for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard 82
	123	+	who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant 83
120	124		General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) 84
121	125		is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time 85
122	126		or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting 86
123	127		program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined 87
124	128		in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) 88
125	129		firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire 89
126	130		company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in 90
127	131		section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state 91
128	132		who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist 92
129	133		victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a 93
130	134		resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the 94
131	135		intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, 95
132	136		and (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or 96
133	137		surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing 97
134	138		active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or 98
135	139		after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state. If any 99
136	140		person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions 100
137	141		of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an 101
138	142		employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such 102
139	143		educational reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National 103
140	144		Guard described in subdivision (5) of this subsection shall be given the 104
141	145		same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for 105
142	146		courses at Connecticut state universities. Notwithstanding the 106
143	147		provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in 107
144	148		this state" includes domicile for less than one year. 108
145	149		Sec. 3. Subsection (e) of section 10a-105 of the general statutes is 109
146	150		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 110
147	151		2025): 111
148	152		(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 112
149	153		any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of 113
150	154		Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed 114
	155	+	Committee Bill No. 376
	156	+
	157	+
	158	+	LCO No. 3600 5 of 14
	159	+
151	160		forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have 115
152	161		been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 116
153		-	1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University 117 Committee Bill No. 376
154		-
155		-
156		-	LCO 3600 5 of 13
157		-
	162	+	1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University 117
158	163		of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is 118
159	164		accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions 119
160	165		of subsection (f) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-120
161	166		103, who [performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 121
162	167		except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 122
163	168		not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 123
164	169		which veteran] has been accepted for admission to said institution and 124
165	170		is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for 125
166	171		admission to said institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two 126
167	172		years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to said 127
168	173		institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting 128
169	174		program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are 129
170	175		enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those 130
171	176		residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the 131
172	177		course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space 132
173	178		available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for 133
174	179		any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who 134
175	180		(A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant 135
176	181		General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) 136
177	182		is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or 137
178	183		part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting 138
179	184		program, (5) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined 139
180	185		in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) 140
181	186		firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire 141
182	187		company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in 142
183	188		section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state 143
184	189		who is the dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist 144
185	190		victim who was a resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a 145
186	191		resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the 146
187	192		intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, 147
188	193		and (8) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or 148
	194	+	Committee Bill No. 376
	195	+
	196	+
	197	+	LCO No. 3600 6 of 14
	198	+
189	199		surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing 149
190	200		active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or 150
191	201		after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state. If any 151
192		-	person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions 152 Committee Bill No. 376
193		-
194		-
195		-	LCO 3600 6 of 13
196		-
	202	+	person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions 152
197	203		of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an 153
198	204		employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such 154
199	205		educational reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National 155
200	206		Guard described in subdivision (4) of this subsection shall be given the 156
201	207		same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for 157
202	208		courses at The University of Connecticut. Notwithstanding the 158
203	209		provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in 159
204	210		this state" includes domicile for less than one year. 160
205	211		Sec. 4. Section 5-224 of the general statutes is repealed and the 161
206	212		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 162
207	213		Any veteran, [who served in time of war,] if such veteran is not 163
208	214		eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States 164
209	215		Department of Veterans Affairs, or the spouse of such veteran who by 165
210	216		reason of such veteran's disability is unable to pursue gainful 166
211	217		employment, or the unmarried surviving spouse of such veteran, and if 167
212	218		such person has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any 168
213	219		examination held for an original appointment for the purpose of 169
214	220		establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance with 170
215	221		subsection (d) of section 5-228, shall have five points added to [his or 171
216	222		her] such person's earned rating. Any such veteran, or the spouse of 172
217	223		such veteran who by reason of such veteran's disability is unable to 173
218	224		pursue gainful employment, or the unmarried surviving spouse of such 174
219	225		veteran, if such person is eligible for such disability compensation or 175
220	226		pension and if such person has attained at least the minimum earned 176
221	227		rating on any such examination held for an original appointment for the 177
222	228		purpose of establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance 178
223	229		with subsection (d) of section 5-228, shall have ten points added to [his 179
224	230		or her] such person's earned rating. Any veteran who has served in a 180
225	231		military action for which such [person] veteran received or was entitled 181
	232	+	Committee Bill No. 376
	233	+
	234	+
	235	+	LCO No. 3600 7 of 14
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226	237		to receive a campaign badge or expeditionary medal, shall have five 182
227	238		points added to [his or her] such veteran's earned rating if such [person] 183
228	239		veteran has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any such 184
229	240		examination held for an original appointment for the purpose of 185
230		-	establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance with 186 Committee Bill No. 376
231		-
232		-
233		-	LCO 3600 7 of 13
234		-
	241	+	establishing a candidate list to fill a vacancy in accordance with 186
235	242		subsection (d) of section 5-228 and such [person] veteran is not 187
236	243		otherwise eligible to receive additional points pursuant to this section. 188
237	244		Any person who is a member of the armed forces, as defined in section 189
238	245		27-103, and who is in the final year of an enlistment contract with any 190
239	246		branch of the armed forces shall have five points added to [his or her] 191
240	247		such person's earned rating if such person has attained at least the 192
241	248		minimum earned rating on any such examination held for an original 193
242	249		appointment for the purpose of establishing a candidate list to fill a 194
243	250		vacancy in accordance with subsection (d) of section 5-228. Names of 195
244	251		any such persons shall be placed upon the candidate lists in the order of 196
245	252		such augmented ratings. Credits shall be based upon examinations with 197
246	253		a possible rating of one hundred points. 198
247	254		Sec. 5. Section 7-415 of the general statutes is repealed and the 199
248	255		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 200
249	256		Any veteran, [who served in time of war, if he] if such veteran is not 201
250	257		eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States 202
251	258		through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and if [he] 203
252	259		such veteran has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any 204
253	260		examination held for the purpose of establishing an employment list for 205
254	261		original appointment, shall have five points added to [his] such 206
255	262		veteran's earned rating. Any such veteran, if [he] such veteran is eligible 207
256	263		for such disability compensation or pension and if [he] such veteran has 208
257	264		attained at least the minimum earned rating on any such examination, 209
258	265		shall have ten points added to [his] such veteran's earned rating. Names 210
259	266		of veterans shall be placed on the list of eligibles in the order of such 211
260	267		augmented rating. Credits shall be based upon examinations with a 212
261	268		possible rating of one hundred points. No such points shall be added to 213
262	269		any earned rating in any civil service or merit examination except as 214
	270	+	Committee Bill No. 376
	271	+
	272	+
	273	+	LCO No. 3600 8 of 14
	274	+
263	275		provided in this section, the provisions of any municipal charter or 215
264	276		special act notwithstanding. 216
265	277		Sec. 6. Section 27-125 of the general statutes is repealed and the 217
266		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 218 Committee Bill No. 376
267		-
268		-
269		-	LCO 3600 8 of 13
270		-
	278	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 218
271	279		Any veteran who is a citizen of this state and who, through disability 219
272	280		or other causes incident to service in the armed forces, [in time of war,] 220
273	281		is in need of temporary financial assistance may be provided for by the 221
274	282		Commissioner of Veterans Affairs by a method similar to that provided 222
275	283		in section 27-82, the amount and continuance of such assistance to be 223
276	284		discretionary with the commissioner. The widow, widower and each 224
277	285		child, parent, brother or sister of any member of the armed forces, who 225
278	286		died while in such active service, may be assisted by the commissioner 226
279	287		if such person or persons are without sufficient means of support by 227
280	288		reason of the death of such member of the armed forces. In carrying out 228
281	289		[his or her] the commissioner's duties under the provisions of this 229
282	290		section, the commissioner is directed to cooperate with such federal 230
283	291		agencies as may aid in securing prompt and suitable treatment, care and 231
284	292		relief of any such member of the armed forces or [his or her] such 232
285	293		member's dependents. The records of the agencies of the state shall be 233
286	294		placed at the disposal of the commissioner and such agencies are 234
287	295		directed to cooperate with and to assist the commissioner in carrying 235
288	296		out [his or her] the commissioner's duties. As used in this section, 236
289	297		"veteran" has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103. 237
290	298		Sec. 7. Section 27-140 of the general statutes is repealed and the 238
291	299		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 239
292	300		All money so paid to and received by the American Legion shall be 240
293	301		expended by it in furnishing temporary income; subsistence items such 241
294	302		as food, wearing apparel, shelter and related expenses; medical or 242
295	303		surgical aid or care or relief (1) to, or in bearing the funeral expenses of, 243
296	304		soldiers, sailors or marines (A) (i) who [performed service in time of 244
297	305		war, as defined in section 27-103,] served in any branch of the military 245
298	306		service of the United States, including the Connecticut National Guard, 246
	307	+	Committee Bill No. 376
	308	+
	309	+
	310	+	LCO No. 3600 9 of 14
	311	+
299	312		or (ii) who were engaged in any of the wars waged by the United States 247
300	313		during said periods in the forces of any government associated with the 248
301	314		United States, (B) who are or were veterans, as defined in section 27-103, 249
302	315		and (C) who were citizens or resident aliens of the state at the time of 250
303	316		entering said armed forces of the United States, including the 251
304		-	Connecticut National Guard, or of any such government, (2) to their 252 Committee Bill No. 376
305		-
306		-
307		-	LCO 3600 9 of 13
308		-
	317	+	Connecticut National Guard, or of any such government, (2) to their 252
309	318		spouses who are living with them, (3) to their widows or widowers who 253
310	319		were living with them at the time of death, or (4) to dependent children 254
311	320		under eighteen years of age, who may be in need of [the same] such 255
312	321		temporary income, subsistence items, medical or surgical aid or care or 256
313	322		relief. All such payments shall be made by the American Legion under 257
314	323		authority of its bylaws, which bylaws shall set forth the procedure for 258
315	324		proof of eligibility for such aid, provided payments made for the care 259
316	325		and treatment of any person entitled to the benefits provided for 260
317	326		[herein] in this section, at any hospital receiving aid from the General 261
318	327		Assembly unless special care and treatment are required, shall be in 262
319	328		accordance with the provisions of section 17b-239, and provided the 263
320	329		sum expended for the care or treatment of such person at any other place 264
321	330		than a state-aided hospital shall in no case exceed the actual cost of 265
322	331		supporting such person at the Healthcare Center in Rocky Hill 266
323	332		maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs, unless special care 267
324	333		and treatment are required, when such sum as may be determined by 268
325	334		the treasurer of such organization may be paid [therefor] for such care 269
326	335		and treatment. Upon the completion of the trust provided for in section 270
327	336		27-138, the principal fund shall revert to the State Treasury. 271
328	337		Sec. 8. Section 14-254 of the general statutes is repealed and the 272
329	338		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 273
330	339		"Disabled veteran", as used in this section, means a person who (1) 274
331	340		[any] is a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, [who performed service 275
332		-	in time of war, as defined in section 27-103,] and (2) (A) has one or both 276
333		-	[of whose] legs or arms or parts thereof [have been] amputated or the 277
334		-	use of which has been lost, (B) [who] is blind, paraplegic or hemiplegic, 278
335		-	or (C) [who] has traumatic brain injury, provided any such disability 279
336		-	described in subdivision (2) of this section [being] is certified as service-280
337		-	connected by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The 281
338		-	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, upon application of any disabled 282
339		-	veteran accompanied by such certificate of United States Department of 283
340		-	Veterans Affairs, shall issue without charge a special number plate or 284
341		-	set of plates in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of 285
342		-	section 14-21b to be attached to a passenger motor vehicle owned or 286 Committee Bill No. 376
	341	+	in time of war, as defined in section 27-103,] and who (2) (A) has one or 276
	342	+	both [of whose] legs or arms or parts thereof [have been] amputated or 277
	343	+	the use of which has been lost, (B) [who] is blind, paraplegic or 278
	344	+	hemiplegic, or (C) [who] has traumatic brain injury, provided any such 279
	345	+	Committee Bill No. 376
343	346
344	347
345		-	LCO 3600 10 of 13
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346	349
347		-	~~operated by such disabled veteran and an identification card to be used 287~~
348		-	~~in connection therewith.~~ The ~~card shall identify the disabled veteran and 288~~
349		-	the motor ~~vehicle and shall state that such disabled veteran is qualified 289~~
350		-	~~to receive the card,~~ ~~that the card,~~ ~~plate or plates shall be returned to the 290~~
351		-	~~commissioner if the registration~~ of ~~the motor vehicle is cancelled or 291~~
352		-	~~transferred and that~~ the ~~card is for the exclusive use~~ of ~~the disabled 292~~
353		-	~~veteran~~ to ~~whom it is issued, is not transferable and will~~ be ~~revoked if 293~~
354		-	~~presented~~ by ~~any other person or if any privilege granted under this 294~~
355		-	~~section is abused~~. ~~If not so revoked,~~ the card shall ~~be renewable every 295~~
356		-	~~four years at~~ the ~~time of registration of~~ motor ~~vehicles. No penalty~~ shall ~~296~~
357		-	~~be imposed for~~ the ~~overtime parking of any motor vehicle bearing a 297~~
358		-	~~number plate issued under this section when it has been so parked by 298~~
359		-	~~the disabled veteran to whom~~ the ~~plate and an identification~~ card ~~were 299~~
360		-	issued ~~or by any person operating such vehicle when accompanied by 300~~
361		-	~~such disabled veteran,~~ ~~provided the length of time for which such 301~~
362		-	~~vehicle may remain parked at~~ any ~~one location shall~~ not ~~exceed twenty-302~~
363		-	four ~~hours.~~ The ~~surviving spouse~~ of ~~a disabled veteran issued such 303~~
364		-	~~special registration may retain any such registration and number plates 304~~
365		-	~~without charge for [his~~ ~~or her]~~ ~~such surviving spouse's lifetime or until 305~~
366		-	~~such time as [he~~ ~~or she]~~ ~~such surviving spouse remarries.~~ ~~306~~
367		-	~~Sec. 9.~~ ~~Subdivision (19) of section 12-81~~ ~~of the general statutes is 307~~
368		-	~~repealed and~~ the ~~following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 308~~
369		-	~~1, 2025,~~ ~~and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1,~~ ~~309~~
370		-	~~2025): 310~~
371		-	~~(19) Subject to the provisions of sections 12-89, 12-90~~ ~~and 12-95, 311~~
372		-	~~property to the amount of one thousand dollars belonging to,~~ or ~~held in 312~~
373		-	~~trust for,~~ ~~(A) any resident of this state who is a veteran,~~ as ~~defined in 313~~
374		-	~~section 27-103, [who~~ ~~was a member of the armed forces in service in time 314~~
375		-	~~of war,]~~ (B) ~~any resident~~ of ~~this state who was a citizen~~ of the ~~United 315~~
376		-	~~States at~~ the ~~time of [his] such resident's enlistment and who was~~ in ~~the 316~~
377		-	~~military~~ or ~~naval service of a government allied or associated with that 317~~
378		-	~~of the United States during the Second World War and received an 318~~
379		-	~~honorable discharge therefrom,~~ (C) ~~any resident~~ of ~~this state who served 319~~
380		-	~~during the Second World War as a member of any armed force of any 320~~ Committee Bill No. 376
	350	+	disability described in subdivision (2) of this section [being] is certified 280
	351	+	as service-connected by the United States Department of Veterans 281
	352	+	Affairs. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, upon application of any 282
	353	+	disabled veteran accompanied by such certificate of United States 283
	354	+	Department of Veterans Affairs, shall issue without charge a special 284
	355	+	number plate or set of plates in accordance with the provisions of 285
	356	+	subsection (a) of section 14-21b to be attached to a passenger motor 286
	357	+	vehicle owned or operated by such disabled veteran and an 287
	358	+	identification card to be used in connection therewith. The card shall 288
	359	+	identify the disabled veteran and the motor vehicle and shall state that 289
	360	+	such disabled veteran is qualified to receive the card, that the card, plate 290
	361	+	or plates shall be returned to the commissioner if the registration of the 291
	362	+	motor vehicle is cancelled or transferred and that the card is for the 292
	363	+	exclusive use of the disabled veteran to whom it is issued, is not 293
	364	+	transferable and will be revoked if presented by any other person or if 294
	365	+	any privilege granted under this section is abused. If not so revoked, the 295
	366	+	card shall be renewable every four years at the time of registration of 296
	367	+	motor vehicles. No penalty shall be imposed for the overtime parking 297
	368	+	of any motor vehicle bearing a number plate issued under this section 298
	369	+	when it has been so parked by the disabled veteran to whom the plate 299
	370	+	and an identification card were issued or by any person operating such 300
	371	+	vehicle when accompanied by such disabled veteran, provided the 301
	372	+	length of time for which such vehicle may remain parked at any one 302
	373	+	location shall not exceed twenty-four hours. The surviving spouse of a 303
	374	+	disabled veteran issued such special registration may retain any such 304
	375	+	registration and number plates without charge for [his or her] such 305
	376	+	surviving spouse's lifetime or until such time as [he or she] such 306
	377	+	surviving spouse remarries. 307
	378	+	Sec. 9. Subdivision (19) of section 12-81 of the general statutes is 308
	379	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 309
	380	+	1, 2025, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 310
	381	+	2025): 311
	382	+	(19) Subject to the provisions of sections 12-89, 12-90 and 12-95, 312
	383	+	Committee Bill No. 376
381	384
382	385
383		-	LCO 3600 11 of 13
	386	+	LCO No. 3600 11 of 14
384	387
385		-	government signatory to the United Nations Declaration of January 1, 321
386		-	1942, and participated in armed conflict with an enemy of the United 322
387		-	States and who has been a citizen of the United States for at least ten 323
388		-	years and presents satisfactory evidence of such service, (D) any 324
389		-	resident of this state who served as a member of the crew of a merchant 325
390		-	vessel during the Second World War and is qualified with respect to 326
391		-	such service as a member of the group known as the "American 327
392		-	Merchant Marine in ocean-going service during the period of armed 328
393		-	conflict, December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945", members of which are 329
394		-	deemed to be eligible for certain veterans benefits under a 330
395		-	determination in the United States Department of Defense, as recorded 331
396		-	in the Federal Register of February 1, 1988, provided such resident has 332
397		-	received an armed forces discharge certificate from the Department of 333
398		-	Defense on the basis of such service, (E) any member of the armed forces 334
399		-	who was in service in time of war and is still in the service and by reason 335
400		-	of continuous service has not as yet received a discharge, (F) any person 336
401		-	who is retired from the armed forces after thirty years of service because 337
402		-	[he] such person has reached the age limit prescribed by law or because 338
403		-	[he] such person suffers from mental or physical disability, or (G) any 339
404		-	person who is serving in the armed services in time of war; or lacking 340
405		-	said amount of property in [his] such person's own name, so much of 341
406		-	the property belonging to, or held in trust for, [his] such person's spouse, 342
407		-	who is domiciled with [him] such person, as is necessary to equal said 343
408		-	amount. For the purposes of this subdivision, "veteran", "armed forces" 344
409		-	and "service in time of war" have the same meanings as provided in 345
410		-	section 27-103; 346
411		-	Sec. 10. Section 27-76 of the general statutes is repealed and the 347
412		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 348
413		-	When requested by the commander of any accredited veteran 349
414		-	organization or by friends or relatives of any deceased person who has 350
415		-	served in any of the armed forces of the United States, [during time of 351
416		-	war, as defined in section 27-103, or] who has served in the National 352
417		-	Guard for more than twenty years or who has died while a member of 353
418		-	the National Guard, the Adjutant General shall order an honor guard 354 Committee Bill No. 376
	388	+	property to the amount of one thousand dollars belonging to, or held in 313
	389	+	trust for, (A) any resident of this state who is a veteran, as defined in 314
	390	+	section 27-103, [who was a member of the armed forces in service in time 315
	391	+	of war,] (B) any resident of this state who was a citizen of the United 316
	392	+	States at the time of [his] such resident's enlistment and who was in the 317
	393	+	military or naval service of a government allied or associated with that 318
	394	+	of the United States during the Second World War and received an 319
	395	+	honorable discharge therefrom, (C) any resident of this state who served 320
	396	+	during the Second World War as a member of any armed force of any 321
	397	+	government signatory to the United Nations Declaration of January 1, 322
	398	+	1942, and participated in armed conflict with an enemy of the United 323
	399	+	States and who has been a citizen of the United States for at least ten 324
	400	+	years and presents satisfactory evidence of such service, (D) any 325
	401	+	resident of this state who served as a member of the crew of a merchant 326
	402	+	vessel during the Second World War and is qualified with respect to 327
	403	+	such service as a member of the group known as the "American 328
	404	+	Merchant Marine in ocean-going service during the period of armed 329
	405	+	conflict, December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945", members of which are 330
	406	+	deemed to be eligible for certain veterans benefits under a 331
	407	+	determination in the United States Department of Defense, as recorded 332
	408	+	in the Federal Register of February 1, 1988, provided such resident has 333
	409	+	received an armed forces discharge certificate from the Department of 334
	410	+	Defense on the basis of such service, (E) any member of the armed forces 335
	411	+	who was in service in time of war and is still in the service and by reason 336
	412	+	of continuous service has not as yet received a discharge, (F) any person 337
	413	+	who is retired from the armed forces after thirty years of service because 338
	414	+	[he] such person has reached the age limit prescribed by law or because 339
	415	+	[he] such person suffers from mental or physical disability, or (G) any 340
	416	+	person who is serving in the armed services in time of war; or lacking 341
	417	+	said amount of property in [his] such person's own name, so much of 342
	418	+	the property belonging to, or held in trust for, [his] such person's spouse, 343
	419	+	who is domiciled with [him] such person, as is necessary to equal said 344
	420	+	amount. For the purposes of this subdivision, "veteran", "armed forces" 345
	421	+	and "service in time of war" have the same meanings as provided in 346
	422	+	Committee Bill No. 376
419	423
420	424
421		-	LCO 3600 12 of 13
	425	+	LCO No. 3600 12 of 14
422	426
423		-	detail from the National Guard, the naval militia, the State Guard or the 355
424		-	organized militia to attend the funeral, except that if an honor guard 356
425		-	detail from such guard or militia is unavailable or committed elsewhere, 357
426		-	the Adjutant General shall request an honor guard detail from a bona 358
427		-	fide Connecticut state veterans' organization, provided such detail shall 359
428		-	comply with the rules and procedures set forth in Connecticut National 360
429		-	Guard regulation 37-106. Such detail shall consist of not more than five 361
430		-	members plus one bugler. The members thereof shall be compensated 362
431		-	at the rate of sixty dollars per day. Such compensation shall be paid from 363
432		-	funds appropriated to the Adjutant General for the pay of the National 364
433		-	Guard and from federal funds received for that purpose. 365
434		-	Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 21-37 of the general statutes is 366
435		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 367
436		-	1, 2025): 368
437		-	(a) Any town may make reasonable ordinances with reference to the 369
438		-	vending or hawking upon its public streets or upon any state highway, 370
439		-	except limited access highways, within such town or any land abutting 371
440		-	such streets or highways of any goods, wares or other merchandise at 372
441		-	public or private sale or auction, or to the vending or peddling of such 373
442		-	articles from house to house within its limits, including the imposition 374
443		-	of a fee, not exceeding two hundred dollars a year, applicable with 375
444		-	respect to any person engaged in such vending, hawking or peddling, 376
445		-	for the privilege of so vending, hawking or peddling such merchandise. 377
446		-	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section which requires a permit 378
447		-	may require that no such permit shall be issued to any person who has 379
448		-	not obtained a permit to engage in or transact business as a seller within 380
449		-	the state in accordance with section 12-409 and shall require that any 381
450		-	permit issued pursuant to such ordinance shall be conspicuously 382
451		-	displayed at the place the activities are undertaken. Such ordinances 383
452		-	may provide that the authority issuing such permit may waive the 384
453		-	permit fee for a nonprofit organization exempt from federal taxation by 385
454		-	Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent 386
455		-	corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time 387
456		-	to time amended, or a charitable organization. No town shall require a 388 Committee Bill No. 376
	427	+	section 27-103; 347
	428	+	Sec. 10. Section 27-76 of the general statutes is repealed and the 348
	429	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 349
	430	+	When requested by the commander of any accredited veteran 350
	431	+	organization or by friends or relatives of any deceased person who has 351
	432	+	served in any of the armed forces of the United States, [during time of 352
	433	+	war, as defined in section 27-103, or] who has served in the National 353
	434	+	Guard for more than twenty years or who has died while a member of 354
	435	+	the National Guard, the Adjutant General shall order an honor guard 355
	436	+	detail from the National Guard, the naval militia, the State Guard or the 356
	437	+	organized militia to attend the funeral, except that if an honor guard 357
	438	+	detail from such guard or militia is unavailable or committed elsewhere, 358
	439	+	the Adjutant General shall request an honor guard detail from a bona 359
	440	+	fide Connecticut state veterans' organization, provided such detail shall 360
	441	+	comply with the rules and procedures set forth in Connecticut National 361
	442	+	Guard regulation 37-106. Such detail shall consist of not more than five 362
	443	+	members plus one bugler. The members thereof shall be compensated 363
	444	+	at the rate of sixty dollars per day. Such compensation shall be paid from 364
	445	+	funds appropriated to the Adjutant General for the pay of the National 365
	446	+	Guard and from federal funds received for that purpose. 366
	447	+	Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 21-37 of the general statutes is 367
	448	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 368
	449	+	1, 2025): 369
	450	+	(a) Any town may make reasonable ordinances with reference to the 370
	451	+	vending or hawking upon its public streets or upon any state highway, 371
	452	+	except limited access highways, within such town or any land abutting 372
	453	+	such streets or highways of any goods, wares or other merchandise at 373
	454	+	public or private sale or auction, or to the vending or peddling of such 374
	455	+	articles from house to house within its limits, including the imposition 375
	456	+	of a fee, not exceeding two hundred dollars a year, applicable with 376
	457	+	respect to any person engaged in such vending, hawking or peddling, 377
	458	+	for the privilege of so vending, hawking or peddling such merchandise. 378
	459	+	Committee Bill No. 376
457	460
458	461
459		-	LCO 3600 13 of 13
	462	+	LCO No. 3600 13 of 14
460	463
461		-	permit fee from any resident of this state who has resided within the 389
462		-	state for a period of two years next preceding the date of application for 390
463		-	such permit, who is (1) a veteran, [who served in time of war,] as defined 391
464		-	in section 27-103, (2) a hawker or peddler, and (3) a principal pursuant 392
465		-	to section 21-36. 393
	464	+	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section which requires a permit 379
	465	+	may require that no such permit shall be issued to any person who has 380
	466	+	not obtained a permit to engage in or transact business as a seller within 381
	467	+	the state in accordance with section 12-409 and shall require that any 382
	468	+	permit issued pursuant to such ordinance shall be conspicuously 383
	469	+	displayed at the place the activities are undertaken. Such ordinances 384
	470	+	may provide that the authority issuing such permit may waive the 385
	471	+	permit fee for a nonprofit organization exempt from federal taxation by 386
	472	+	Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent 387
	473	+	corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time 388
	474	+	to time amended, or a charitable organization. No town shall require a 389
	475	+	permit fee from any resident of this state who has resided within the 390
	476	+	state for a period of two years next preceding the date of application for 391
	477	+	such permit, who is (1) a veteran, [who served in time of war,] as defined 392
	478	+	in section 27-103, (2) a hawker or peddler, and (3) a principal pursuant 393
	479	+	to section 21-36. 394
466	480		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
467	481		sections:
468	482
469	483		Section 1 July 1, 2025 10a-77(d)
470	484		Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10a-99(d)
471	485		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 10a-105(e)
472	486		Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 5-224
473	487		Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 7-415
474	488		Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 27-125
475	489		Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 27-140
476	490		Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 14-254
477	491		Sec. 9 October 1, 2025, and
478	492		applicable to assessment
479	493		years commencing on or
480	494		after October 1, 2025
481	495		12-81(19)
482	496		Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 27-76
483	497		Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 21-37(a)
484	498
485		-	VA Joint Favorable
	499	+	Statement of Purpose:
	500	+	To eliminate service in time of war as an eligibility criterion for certain
	501	+	state and municipal veterans' benefits.
	502	+	Committee Bill No. 376
	503	+
	504	+
	505	+	LCO No. 3600 14 of 14
	506	+
	507	+
	508	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	509	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	510	+	underlined.]
	511	+
	512	+	Co-Sponsors: SEN. GORDON, 35th Dist.; REP. POULOS, 81st Dist.
	513	+
	514	+	S.B. 376
	515	+	H.B. 5220
	516	+
486	517