SB 348 — AN ACT ELIMINATING SERVICE IN TIME OF WAR AS AN ELIGIBILITY CRITERION FOR CERTAIN STATE AND MUNICIPAL VETERANS' BENEFITS.

(d) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition at any of the regional community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, who [performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in timeLCO of1980 war"\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-00348-R1 shallof not13 includeSB.docx timeBill spent in attendance at a military LCO No.

1980348 1time of 13war" Raisedshall Billnot No.348include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, which veteran] has been accepted for admission to such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older, provided, at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut State Police Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in coordination with a regional community-technical college which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident ofthe state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state.

Veterans and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (5) of this subsectionLCO shall1980 be{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-00342 givenof the13 sameR01-SB.docx status} asBill students not receiving LCO No.

1980348 2subsection ofshall 13be Raisedgiven Billthe No.same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for courses at regional community- technical colleges.

348 tuition waivers in registering for courses at regional community- technical colleges.

(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the Connecticut State University System (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27- 103, who [performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, which veteran] has been accepted for admission to such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to such institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut Police Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in coordination with the university which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) forLCO any1980 active{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-003483 member of the13 ConnecticutR01-SB.docx Army} orBill Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant LCO No.

1980348 3for any active member of 13the RaisedConnecticut BillArmy No.348or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state.

(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forcesoftheUnitedStateshasdeclaredtoLCO bemissing1980 inactionor{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-0034 tohave been a prisoner of war13 whileR01-SB.docx serving} inBill such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University LCO No.

1980348 4forcesoftheUnitedStateshasdeclaredto bemissing inactionor tohave been a prisoner of 13war Raisedwhile Billserving No.348in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27- 103, who [performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, which veteran] has been accepted for admission to said institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to said institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to said institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guardwho (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (5) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state who is the dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (8) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing activeLCO military1980 duty{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-00345 with the armed forces of the13 UnitedR01-SB.docx States} onBill orNo. after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state.

If348 anyactive personmilitary whoduty receiveswith athe tuitionarmed waiverforces inof accordancethe withUnited theStates provisionson LCOor No.after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state.

1980If 5any ofperson 13who Raisedreceives Billa No.348tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement.

Any veteran who has served in a military action for which such [person] veteran received or was entitled to receive a campaign badge or expeditionary medal, shall have five pointsLCO added1980 to{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-0036 [his or her] such veteran's earned rating if such [person] veteran has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any such examination held for an original appointment for the purpose of establishing13 aR01-SB.docx candidate} listBill to fill a vacancy in accordance with LCO No.

1980348 6points added to [his or her] such veteran's earned rating if such [person] veteran has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any such examination held for an original appointment for the purpose of 13establishing Raiseda Billcandidate No.348list to fill a vacancy in accordance with subsection (d) of section 5-228 and such [person] veteran is not otherwise eligible to receive additional points pursuant to this section.

Any veteran, [who served in time of war, if he] if such veteran is not eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and if [he] such veteran has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any examination held for the purpose of establishing an employment list for originalappointmentoriginal shallhaveappointment, shall have five pointsaddedtopoints added to [his] suchveteran'ssuch veteran's earned rating.

No such points shall be added to any earned rating in any civil service or merit examination except as provided in this section, the provisions of any municipal charter or specialLCO act1980 notwithstanding.{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-00347 of 13 R01-SB.docx } Bill No.

348 special act notwithstanding.

LCOAny No.veteran who is a citizen of this state and who, through disability or other causes incident to service in the armed forces, [in time of war,] is in need of temporary financial assistance may be provided for by the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs by a method similar to that provided in section 27-82, the amount and continuance of such assistance to be discretionary with the commissioner.

1980 7 of 13 Raised Bill No.348 Any veteran who is a citizen of this state and who, through disability or other causes incident to service in the armed forces, [in time of war,] is in need of temporary financial assistance may be provided for by the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs by a method similar to that provided in section 27-82, the amount and continuance of such assistance to be discretionary with the commissioner.

medical or surgical aid or care or relief (1) to, or in bearing the funeral expenses of, soldiers, sailors or marines (A) (i) who [performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103,] served in any branch of the military service of the United States, including the Connecticut National Guard, or (ii) who were engaged in any of the wars waged by the United States duringLCO said1980 periods{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-003488 in the forces of any13 governmentR01-SB.docx associated} withBill the United States, (B) who are or were veterans, as defined in section 27-103, and (C) who were citizens or resident aliens of the state at the time of entering said armed forces of the United States, including the Connecticut National Guard, or of any such government, (2) to their LCO No.

1980348 8during said periods in the forces of 13any Raisedgovernment Billassociated No.348with the United States, (B) who are or were veterans, as defined in section 27-103, and (C) who were citizens or resident aliens of the state at the time of entering said armed forces of the United States, including the Connecticut National Guard, or of any such government, (2) to their spouses who are living with them, (3) to their widows or widowers who were living with them at the time of death, or (4) to dependent children under eighteen years of age, who may be in need of [the same] such temporary income, subsistence items, medical or surgical aid or care or relief.

"Disabled veteran", as used in this section, means (1) any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, [who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103,] and (2) (A) one or both of whose legs or arms or parts thereof have been amputated or the use of which has been lost, (B) who is blind, paraplegic or hemiplegic, or (C) who has traumatic brain injury, any such disability described in subdivision (2) of this section being certified as service-connected by the United States DepartmentLCO 1980 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-0039 of Veterans13 Affairs.R01-SB.docx } Bill No.

The348 Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, upon application of any disabled veteran accompanied by such certificate of United States Department of Veterans Affairs,Affairs. shall issue withoutchargeaspecialnumberplateorsetofplatesinaccordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 14-21b to be attached to a passenger motor vehicle owned or operated by such disabled veteran LCO No.

1980The 9Commissioner of 13Motor RaisedVehicles, Billupon No.348application of any disabled veteran accompanied by such certificate of United States Department of Veterans Affairs, shall issue withoutchargeaspecialnumberplateorsetofplatesinaccordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 14-21b to be attached to a passenger motor vehicle owned or operated by such disabled veteran and an identification card to be used in connection therewith.

(19) Subject to the provisions of sections 12-89, 12-90 and 12-95, property to the amount of one thousand dollars belonging to, or held in trust for, (A) any resident of this state who is a veteran, as defined in section27-103,LCO [who1980 wasamember{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-0010 ofthearmedforcesinservice intime of war,]13 (B)R01-SB.docx any} residentBill of this state who was a citizen of the United States at the time of [his] such resident's enlistment and who was in the military or naval service of a government allied or associated with that of the United States during the Second World War and received an honorable discharge therefrom, (C)any resident ofthisstate who served during the Second World War as a member of any armed force of any LCO No.

1980348 10section27-103, [who wasamember ofthearmedforcesinservice intime of 13war,] Raised(B) Billany No.348resident of this state who was a citizen of the United States at the time of [his] such resident's enlistment and who was in the military or naval service of a government allied or associated with that of the United States during the Second World War and received an honorable discharge therefrom, (C)any resident ofthisstate who served during the Second World War as a member of any armed force of any government signatory to the United Nations Declaration of January 1, 1942, and participated in armed conflict with an enemy of the United States and who has been a citizen of the United States for at least ten years and presents satisfactory evidence of such service, (D) any resident of this state who served as a member of the crew of a merchant vessel during the Second World War and is qualified with respect to such service as a member of the group known as the "American Merchant Marine in ocean-going service during the period of armed conflict, December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945", members of which are deemed to be eligible for certain veterans benefits under a determination in the United States Department of Defense, as recorded in the Federal Register of February 1, 1988, provided such resident has received an armed forces discharge certificate from the Department of Defense onthe basisof such service, (E) any member ofthearmedforces who was in service in time ofwar andis stillinstill in theservice and by reason of continuous service has not as yet received a discharge, (F) any person who is retired fromthe armed forces after thirty years of service because [he] such person has reached the age limit prescribed by law or because [he] such person suffers from mental or physical disability, or (G) any person who is serving in the armed services in time of war;

Section 27-76 of the general statutes is repealed and the followingLCO is1980 substituted{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-0011 inof lieu13 thereofR01-SB.docx (Effective} OctoberBill 1,No. 2024):

When348 requestedfollowing byis thesubstituted commander of any accredited veteran organization or by friends or relatives of any deceased person who has served in anylieu ofthereof the(Effective armedOctober forces1, of2024): the United States, [during time of war, as defined in section 27-103, or] who has served in the National Guard for more than twenty years or who has died while a member of the National Guard, the Adjutant General shall order an honor guard LCO No.

1980When 11requested by the commander of 13any Raisedaccredited Billveteran No.348organization or by friends or relatives of any deceased person who has served in any of the armed forces of the United States, [during time of war, as defined in section 27-103, or] who has served in the National Guard for more than twenty years or who has died while a member of the National Guard, the Adjutant General shall order an honor guard detail from the National Guard, the naval militia, the State Guard or the organized militia to attend the funeral, except that if an honor guard detailfromsuchguard or militiaisunavailable or committedelsewhere, the Adjutant General shall request an honor guard detail from a bona fide Connecticut state veterans' organization, provided such detail shall comply with the rules and procedures set forth in Connecticut National Guard regulation 37-106.

Any ordinance adoptedpursuant to thissectionwhich requiresapermit may require that no such permit shall be issued to any person who has not obtained a permit to engage in or transact business as a seller within theLCO state1980 in{\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-003412 accordanceof with13 sectionR01-SB.docx 12-409} andBill shallNo. require that any permit issued pursuant to such ordinance shall be conspicuously displayed at the place the activities are undertaken.

348 the state in accordance with section 12-409 and shall require that any permit issued pursuant to such ordinance shall be conspicuously displayed at the place the activities are undertaken.

No town shall require a LCOpermit No.fee from any resident of this state who has resided within the state for a period of two years next preceding the date of application for suchpermit,whois(1) aveteran,[whoservedintimeofwar,]asdefined in section 27-103, (2) a hawker or peddler, and (3) a principal pursuant to section 21-36.

1980 12 of 13 Raised Bill No.

348 permit fee from any resident of this state who has resided within the state for a period of two years next preceding the date of application for suchpermit,whois(1) aveteran,[whoservedintimeofwar,]asdefined in section 27-103, (2) a hawker or peddler, and (3) a principal pursuant to section 21-36.

2 October 1, 2024 10a-99(d) October 1, 2024 Sec.

3 October 1, 2024 10a-105(e) Sec.

5 October 1, 2024 7-415 October 1, 2024 Sec.

6 October 1, 2024 27-125 Sec.

11 October 1, 2024 21-37(a) StatementVA Joint Favorable C/R FIN LCO 1980 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2024SB-00348- 13 of Purpose:13 R01-SB.docx }

To eliminate service in time of war as an eligibility criterion for certain state and municipal veterans' benefits.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.