House Bill 1385

ARCHIVE (2005)

Latest Information

 
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL

High school diplomas and benefits for veterans. Provides a $150,000 death benefit for a member of the national guard or a reserve component who dies while on military duty outside the United States beginning September 11, 2001. Appropriates an amount sufficient for the death benefit. Establishes the veterans' affairs trust fund to finance certain benefits and services to eligible veterans and to fund veteran related projects authorized by the veterans' affairs commission. Funds the trust fund by: (1) taxpayer designation of all or part of a state income tax refund; (2) a quarterly allocation of 0.5% of the surplus revenue in the administrative trust fund; (3) donations; and (4) appropriations or other amounts provided for the fund. Provides that benefits available to eligible veterans from the fund include: (1) tuition reimbursement; (2) temporary emergency aid grants for subsistence and health care; (3) personal loans; (4) an assistance program for veterans in need of services; (5) retraining grants; (6) allocations to the state armory board for use by the military department ceremonial unit in rendering appropriate military honors at state functions and veteran funeral services; (7) grants to veterans' associations, veterans' organizations, and memorial corporations; and (8) grants to county service officers to improve services to veterans. Requires the department of veteran's affairs to establish a program to reimburse a resident medal of honor awardee for participating in patriotic and other official events. Appropriates an amount sufficient to reimburse medal of honor awardees. Provides that a veteran of the Korean Conflict who left a public or nonpublic high school without graduating in order to perform military service is entitled to receive a high school diploma.
Current Status:
 In Committee - first House
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