Bill > HB1869

This bill establishes a grant program, administered by the veterans' commission, to provide funds for repairing and resetting grave markers of eligible deceased veterans that have been damaged by natural causes. An eligible deceased veteran is defined as someone who served at least 180 days on active duty or in the National Guard/reserves, or died while on official military duty, and was honorably discharged, had no disqualifying criminal convictions, did not die under discreditable circumstances, and is buried in a privately owned cemetery or plot within the state. Applications can be submitted by cemetery owners or operators, or owners of private family burial property, with the consent of a living direct descendant if applicable. Grants will be awarded if funds were spent on repairs, the marker is a standard size, proof of work completion is provided, descendant consent was obtained, and funds are available in the dedicated Veterans' Grave Marker Trust Fund, with a maximum grant of $2,500 per marker. The commission will establish application procedures and timelines, and grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The Veterans' Grave Marker Trust Fund will be financed by appropriations and other contributions, and any remaining funds will not revert to general revenue at the end of a biennium. The commission is authorized to create necessary rules for the program's administration.