HB 5787 — AN ACT CONCERNING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO JOIN A CHAPTER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART AND RECEIVE A NUMBER PLATE RECOGNIZING THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART.

House of Representatives General Assembly SubstituteFile Bill No.

578740 January Session, 2025 ANSubstitute ACTHouse CONCERNINGBill REIMBURSEMENTNo. FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO JOIN A CHAPTER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART AND RECEIVE A NUMBER PLATE RECOGNIZING THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART.

5787 House of Representatives, March 5, 2025 The Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs reported through REP.

FOSTER of the 57th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO JOIN A CHAPTER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART AND RECEIVE A NUMBER PLATE RECOGNIZING THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART.

The regulations shallsHB5787 provide/ thatFile aNo. labor union shall be a qualifying organization.

(b)40 The Department of Motor Vehicles,in consultationwiththeBoard of Regents for Higher Education, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of collegiate special number plates with the logos or emblems of Connecticut public and independent institutions of higher LCO 1 ofsHB5787 2File Substitute Bill No.

578740 education.shall provide that a labor union shall be a qualifying organization.

(b) The Department of Motor Vehicles,in consultationwiththeBoard of Regents for Higher Education, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of collegiate special number plates with the logos or emblems of Connecticut public and independent institutions of higher education.

SectionsHB5787 1/ JulyFile 1,No. 2025 14-19a Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

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40 Section 1 July 1, 2025 14-19a Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

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40 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 26 $ FY 27 $ Vet.

Affairs, Dept.

GF - Cost See Below See Below Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill would result in a cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) beginning in FY 26 to the extent that eligible veterans and members of the armed services are approved for a number plate recognizing theMilitary Order of the Purple Heart.

The bill requires the DVA to reimburse approved applicants their membership fee to join the Order, which currently is $200 for a lifetime membership.

The impact of the bill is dependent on the number of eligible veterans and members of the armed forces that are eligible in the future.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into thefuture subject to thecost ofmembershipto theMilitary Order of the Purple Heart and the number of eligible veterans.

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40 OLR Bill Analysis HB 5787 AN ACT CONCERNING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO JOIN A CHAPTER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART AND RECEIVE A NUMBER PLATE RECOGNIZING THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART.

SUMMARY This bill allows veterans and members of the armed forces who get a license plate recognizing the Military Order of the Purple Heart on or after July 1, 2025, to apply to the veterans affairs commissioner for reimbursement of the cost of joining a chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in order to get the license plate.

The bill (1) authorizes the commissioner to determine the application process for reimbursement and (2) requires him to notify the veteran or member of a decision within 60 days of receipt of the application and, if approved, reimburse the veteran or member.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2025 BACKGROUND Definition of Armed Forces “Armed forces” means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force, and any reserve component of them, including the Connecticut National Guard performing duty under federal law (CGS § 27-103).

Definition of Veteran Under state law, a veteran is anyone who was honorably discharged, or released under honorable conditions, from active service in the United States armed forces.

This also includes anyone who was released fromactive service withanother thanhonorable (OTH)discharge based sHB5787 / File No.

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40 on a “qualifying condition.” A qualifying condition is a (1) post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury diagnosis by a licensed health care professional at a U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs facility;

(2) military sexual trauma disclosed to such a health care professional;

or (3) determination by theQualifying ReviewBoardthat sexualorientation,genderidentity, or gender expression was more likely than not the primary reason for the OTH discharge (CGS § 27-103).