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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2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