SB 238 — AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS FROM THE MILITARY RELIEF FUND.

Senate GeneralBill Assembly File No.

160238 FebruaryPublic Session,Act 2024 Senate Bill No.

23824-57 Senate,AN MarchACT 28,EXPANDING 2024ELIGIBILITY TheFOR CommitteeGRANTS onFROM Veterans'THE andMILITARY MilitaryRELIEF AffairsFUND. reported through SEN.

MARX of the 20th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS FROM THE MILITARY RELIEF FUND.

SB238Approved /May File28, No.2024

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160 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2024 27-100a(c) VA Joint Favorable SB238 / File No.

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160 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 25 $ FY 26 $ Military Dept.

Military Relief See Below See Below Fund - Potential Cost Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill expands the eligibility for payments from the Military Relief Fund (MRF) resulting in a potential revenue loss to the Fund to the extent additional payments are made.

In FY 23 the MRF paid four grants totaling $14,078 and the fund has a balance of over $900,000 .

2 The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of payments made.

The MRF provides monetary grants to service members and their families that are experiencing a financial hardship as a result of military service.

The Connecticut Military Department runs the program and Connecticut law caps payments at $5,000 per grant.

The MRF received an original appropriation in 2005 and since then has sustained a positive balance through gifts, grants, and donations of private citizens.

SB238 / File No.

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160 OLR Bill Analysis SB 238 AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS FROM THE MILITARY RELIEF FUND.

SUMMARY This bill expands eligibility for Military Relief Fund grants.

Under existing law, the Connecticut Military Department may provide grants to servicemembers and their immediate family members to pay expenses for essential personal or household goods or services if these expenses would be a hardship due to the servicemember’s military service.

Under the bill, the department may also provide grants if these expenseswould bea hardshipdue to theservicemember’sor immediate family member’s serious injury, serious illness, or death.

The bill retains the current law’s grant amount cap (up to $5,000 or the balance of the fund that is available for grants) and also makes minor, clarifying changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2024 COMMITTEE ACTION Veterans' and Military Affairs Committee Joint Favorable Yea 20 Nay 0 (03/14/2024) SB238 / File No.

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