Connecticut 2021 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 5 D · 4 R cosponsors

SB 914 — AN ACT CONCERNING HMONG LAOTIAN SPECIAL GUERILLA UNITS WHICH SERVED IN THE KINGDOM OF LAOS.

Last action — SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2021. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    11 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (5 D · 4 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

294 added · 464 removed

294 line(s) added, 464 removed.

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Latest
Senate General Assembly File No.
Substitute Senate Bill No.
249 January Session, 2021 Substitute Senate Bill No.
914 Public Act No.
914 Senate, April 1, 2021 The Committee on Veterans' Affairs reported through SEN.
21-51 AN ACT CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE HMONG LAOTIAN SPECIAL GUERILLA UNITS.
CABRERA of the 17th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING HMONG LAOTIAN SPECIAL GUERILLA UNITS WHICH SERVED IN THE KINGDOM OF LAOS.
The commissioner shall charge a fee for such plates, which fee shall cover the entire cost of making such plates and shall be sSB914 / File No.
The commissioner shall charge a fee for such plates, which fee shall cover the entire cost of making such plates and shall be in addition to the fee for registration of such motor vehicle.
249 1 sSB914 File No.
As used in this subsection, ["member of the armed forces"] "armed forces" has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103 and "veteran" means any person (1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable Substitute Senate Bill No.
249 in addition to the fee for registration of such motor vehicle.
914 conditions from active service in, the armed forces, or (2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed forces.
As used in this subsection, ["member of the armed forces"] "armed forces" has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103 and "veteran" means any person (1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed forces, or (2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed forces.
(C) any available official sSB914 / File No.
(C) any available official documentation of service;
249 2 sSB914 File No.
and (D) any other documents supporting Public Act No.
249 documentation of service;
21-51 2 of 10 Substitute Senate Bill No.
and (D) any other documents supporting such person's or such surviving spouse's affidavit.
914 such person's or such surviving spouse's affidavit.
(1)Doesnothaveanoperator'slicenseoridentitycardissuedbyanother state, territory or possessionoftheUnitedStates,or surrendersany such license or identity card;
(1)Doesnothaveanoperator'slicenseoridentitycardissuedbyanother Public Act No.
21-51 3 of 10 Substitute Senate Bill No.
914 state, territory or possessionoftheUnitedStates,or surrendersany such license or identity card;
sSB914 / File No.
(3) designates such person's home address as 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161;
249 3 sSB914 File No.
249 (3) designates such person's home address as 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161;
Said department shall, not later than thirty days after receipt of such request and the documents required under subdivision (2) of this subsection, verify whether such person was such a member and, if so, notify the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of such request and verification.
Said department shall, not later than thirty days after receipt of such request and the documents required under subdivision (2) of this subsection, verify whether such person was such a member and, if so, Public Act No.
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall indicate such person's status as a veteran on any motor vehicle operator's license or identity card issued to such person upon original issuance or renewal of a motor vehicle operator's license or identity card or upon issuance of a sSB914 / File No.
21-51 4 of 10 Substitute Senate Bill No.
249 4 sSB914 File No.
914 notify the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of such request and verification.
249 duplicate motor vehicle operator's license or identity card.
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall indicate such person's status as a veteran on any motor vehicle operator's license or identity card issued to such person upon original issuance or renewal of a motor vehicle operator's license or identity card or upon issuance of a duplicate motor vehicle operator's license or identity card.
(a) When any veteran or member, as defined in subsection (e) of this section, dies, not having sufficient estate to pay the necessary expenses of the veteran's or member's last sickness and burial, as determined by the commissioner after consultation with the probate court for the district in which the veteran or member resided, the state shall pay the sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars toward such funeral expenses, and the burial shall be in some cemetery or plot not used sSB914 / File No.
Public Act No.
249 5 sSB914 File No.
21-51 5 of 10 Substitute Senate Bill No.
249 exclusively for the burial of the pauper dead, and the same amount shall be paid if the body is cremated, but no amount shall be paid for the expenses for burial or cremation unless claim therefor is made within one year from the date of death, except that in cases of death occurring abroad, such claim may be made within one year after the remains of such veteran or member have been interred in this country.
914 (a) When any veteran or member, as defined in subsection (e) of this section, dies, not having sufficient estate to pay the necessary expenses of the veteran's or member's last sickness and burial, as determined by the commissioner after consultation with the probate court for the district in which the veteran or member resided, the state shall pay the sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars toward such funeral expenses, and the burial shall be in some cemetery or plot not used exclusively for the burial of the pauper dead, and the same amount shall be paid if the body is cremated, but no amount shall be paid for the expenses for burial or cremation unless claim therefor is made within one year from the date of death, except that in cases of death occurring abroad, such claim may be made within one year after the remains of such veteran or member have been interred in this country.
(c) (1) Upon satisfactory proof by the person who has paid or provided for the funeral or burial expense to the commissioner of the identity of the deceased member, the time and place of the deceased member's death and burial and the approval thereof by the commissioner, the sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars shall be paidby theComptroller to thepersonwho haspaidthefuneralor burial expense, or upon assignment by such person, to the funeral director who has provided the funeral.
(c) (1) Upon satisfactory proof by the person who has paid or provided for the funeral or burial expense to the commissioner of the identity of the deceased member, the time and place of the deceased member's death and burial and the approval thereof by the commissioner, the sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars shall be paidby theComptroller to thepersonwho haspaidthefuneralor burial expense, or upon assignment by such person, to the funeral director Public Act No.
21-51 6 of 10 Substitute Senate Bill No.
914 who has provided the funeral.
sSB914 / File No.
(d) Whenever the Comptroller has lawfully paid any sum toward the expenses of the burial of any deceased veteran or member and it afterwards appears that the deceased left any estate, the Comptroller may present a claim on behalf of the state against the estate of such deceased veteran or member for the sum so paid, and the claim shall be a preferred claim against such estate and shall be paid to the Treasurer ofthestate.
249 6 sSB914 File No.
249 (d) Whenever the Comptroller has lawfully paid any sum toward the expenses of the burial of any deceased veteran or member and it afterwards appears that the deceased left any estate, the Comptroller may present a claim on behalf of the state against the estate of such deceased veteran or member for the sum so paid, and the claim shall be a preferred claim against such estate and shall be paid to the Treasurer ofthestate.
Section 27-122b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021):
Section 27-122b of the general statutes is repealed and the Public Act No.
21-51 7 of 10 Substitute Senate Bill No.
914 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021):
or (3) who was killed in action, or who died as a result of accident or illness sustained while performing active service, in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard or any women's auxiliary branch thereof, organized pursuant to an Act of sSB914 / File No.
or (3) who was killed in action, or who died as a result of accident or illness sustained while performing active service, in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard or any women's auxiliary branch thereof, organized pursuant to an Act of Congress, or in the Connecticut National Guard.
249 7 sSB914 File No.
249 Congress, or in the Connecticut National Guard.
(d) (1) (A) Any person who served in the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units, which units served in the United States secret war in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War, may, by letter or other communication addressed to the commissioner, or by will, request that upon his or her death his or her body be buried in a veterans' cemetery established pursuant to section 27-122a, or (B) the spouse or other next of kin may apply to the commissioner to have the body of such person buried in said veterans' cemetery, and in either case such request shall be granted.
Public Act No.
21-51 8 of 10 Substitute Senate Bill No.
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914 (d) (1) (A) Any person who served in the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units, which units served in the United States secret war in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War, may, by letter or other communication addressed to the commissioner, or by will, request that upon his or her death his or her body be buried in a veterans' cemetery established pursuant to section 27-122a, or (B) the spouse or other next of kin may apply to the commissioner to have the body of such person buried in said veterans' cemetery, and in either case such request shall be granted.
(C) any available official sSB914 / File No.
(C) any available official documentation of service;
249 8 sSB914 File No.
249 documentation of service;
(NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Adjutant General, shall award a ribbon and medal to each member who is a resident of this state and who provides to the Department of Veterans Affairs (1) an affidavit stating (A) when such person served, (B) where such person served, (C) theunit inwhichsuch personserved,and(D)thecapacity inwhichsuch personserved;
(NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 27-73e of the general statutes, the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Adjutant General, shall award a ribbon and medal as described in said section to each member who is Public Act No.
(2)any availablecorroborating witnessaffidavits;(3) any available official documentation of service;
21-51 9 of 10 Substitute Senate Bill No.
914 a resident of this state and who provides to the Department of Veterans Affairs (1) an affidavit stating (A) when such person served, (B) where such person served, (C) the unit in which such person served, and (D) the capacity in which such person served;
(2) any available corroborating witness affidavits;
(3) any available official documentation of service;
As used in this section, "member" means a person who served inthe Hmong Laotian special guerilla units, which units served in the United States secret war in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War.
As used in this section, "member" means a person who served in the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units, which units served in the United States secret war in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War.
(b) The commissioner, in consultation with the Adjutant General, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, setting forth the process for designing the ribbon and medal, identifying such members under this section and establishing procedures for distributing the ribbon and medal to each such member.
Approved June 16, 2021 Public Act No.
(c) The cost of the ribbons and medals shall be paid from the funds appropriated to the military assistance account within the Military Department.
21-51 10 of 10
Within existing budgetary resources, awards under this sSB914 / File No.
249 9 sSB914 File No.
249 section may be made posthumously to any deceased member.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2021 14-20b Sec.
2 October 1, 2021 14-36h Sec.
3 October 1, 2021 27-118 Sec.
4 October 1, 2021 27-122b Sec.
5 October 1, 2021 New section Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(b)(1), "set forth in" was changed to "provided under" for consistency with standard drafting conventions, and in Section 1 (b)(2), "set forth in" was changed to "under" for consistency with standard drafting conventions.
VA Joint Favorable Subst.
-LCO sSB914 / File No.
249 10 sSB914 File No.
249 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 22 $ FY 23 $ Department of Veterans' Affairs GF - Potential See Below See Below Cost Department of Veterans' Affairs Institutional See Below See Below General Welfare Fund - Potential Cost Military Dept.
GF - Cost Up to None 20,000 Note:
GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill expands eligibility for certain veterans benefits to members of the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units that served in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam war and surviving spouses.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), there are currently approximately 60 members of these special guerilla units in Connecticut.
Sections 1 and 2 expand eligibility for veteran-status license plates, driver's licenses and identity cards.
These sections result in no fiscal impact because the requisite fees cover the cost.
Section 3 results in a potential cost of $1,800 per veteran for the payment of funeral expenses for certain eligible veterans paid for out of the General Fund.
The annual impact will depend on how many individuals are served beginning in FY 22.
sSB914 / File No.
249 11 sSB914 File No.
249 Section 4 results in a potential cost of $1,750 to $3,025 per veteran for the payment of burial expenses for the State Veterans' Cemetery paid for out of the Institutional General Welfare Fund.
The annual impact will depend on how many individuals are served beginning in FY 22.
Section 5 requires ribbons and medals to be awarded to members of the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units resulting in a cost of up to $20,000 to the Military Department in FY 22.
The cost includes medal and ribbon design and manufacturing.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future depending on the number of eligible veterans.
sSB914 / File No.
249 12 sSB914 File No.
249 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 914 AN ACT CONCERNING HMONG LAOTIAN SPECIAL GUERILLA UNITS WHICH SERVED IN THE KINGDOM OF LAOS.
SUMMARY This bill extends eligibility for certain veterans benefits to members of the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units that served during the Vietnam war in the U.S.
secret war inthe Kingdom of Laos.
Specifically, the bill extends the following benefits to these individuals:
1.
veterans license plates, including for vehicles used exclusively for farming (§ 1);
2.
veterans status on a driver’s license or identity card (§ 2);
3.
$1,800 toward funeral expenses or cremation for certain indigent veterans (§ 3);
and 4.
veterans ribbon and medal (§ 5).
The bill also allows these Hmong veterans to be buried in a veterans cemetery, which conforms with existing federal law and Department of Veterans Affairs policy (§ 4) (see BACKGROUND).
Under the bill, to claim these benefits, the member (or other applicant, as applicable) must submit a request to the Department of Veterans Affairs and provide the department with (1) an affidavit stating when and where the member served and the unit and capacity in which they served;
(2) corroborating witness affidavits, if available;
(3) any available official service documentation;
and (5) any other supporting documents.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2021 sSB914 / File No.
249 13 sSB914 File No.
249 VETERANS LICENSE PLATES The law allows qualifying veterans, armed forces members, or their surviving spouses to request a special registration certificate and veterans license plates for any motor vehicle they own or have leased for at least one year, including any motor vehicle they use exclusively for farming if they engage in agricultural production as a trade or profession (CGS § 14-20b).
The bill, additionally, allows Hmong Laotian special guerilla unit members or their surviving spouses to request the special registration and plates by (1) submitting a request to the Department of Veterans Affairs to be listed as a veteran based on such service for purposes of this benefit and (2) providing the required documentation described above.
The department must, within 30 days of receiving the request, verify whether the person was a Hmong Laotian special guerilla unit member and, if so, notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) commissioner of the request and verification.
As under current law, the DMV commissioner must charge a fee that covers the cost of making the plates, in addition to the motor vehicle registration fee.
VETERANS STATUS ON DRIVER’S LICENSE OR IDENTITY CARD Existing law requires the DMV commissioner to include a person’s status as a veteran on his or her driver’s license or identity card.
Qualifying veterans must submit a request to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which must verify the veteran’s status to the DMV commissioner.
The bill allows Hmong Laotian special guerilla unit members to also request this status on their licenses or identity cards by submitting a request to the Department of Veterans Affairs and providing the required documentation.
The department must, within 30 days of receiving the request, verify whether the person was a Hmong Laotian special guerilla unit member and, if so, notify the DMV commissioner of the request and verification.
sSB914 / File No.
249 14 sSB914 File No.
249 As under current law, the DMV commissioner must indicate the member’s veteran status on any license or identification card when originally issued, renewed, or issued as a duplicate.
RIBBONS AND MEDALS The bill requires the veterans affairs commissioner, in consultation with the adjutant general, to (1) award a ribbon and medal to each Hmong Laotian special guerilla unit member who resides in the state and provides the required documentation and (2) adopt regulations for doing so.
The regulations must (1) identify the eligible members, (2) establish the process for designing the ribbon and medal, (3) set the procedures for distributing them.
The Military Department’s military assistance account must fund the cost of the ribbons and medals.
Under the bill, ribbons and medals may be posthumously awarded within existing budgetary resources.
BACKGROUND Hmong Veterans Eligibility for Burial in the State Veterans Cemetery Eligibility for burial in the State Veterans Cemetery is based on the federal eligibility requirements for burial in national veterans’ cemeteries.
Under federal law, Hmong veterans are eligible for burial in Department of Veterans Affairs national cemeteries if they (1) died on or after March 23, 2018;
(2) resided in the U.S.
at the time of their death;
and (3) were naturalized citizens under the Hmong Veterans’ NaturalizationActof2000(38U.S.C.
§2402(a)(10)).Pursuant to thislaw, existing state Department of Veterans Affairs policy establishes a procedure by which the families of these eligible veterans may apply to the department to determine burial eligibility in the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown.
COMMITTEE ACTION Veterans’ Affairs Committee Joint Favorable Yea 17 Nay 0 (03/18/2021) sSB914 / File No.
249 15
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Action History

  1. SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  2. TRANSMITTED BY SECRETARY OF THE STATE TO GOVERNOR

  3. TRANSMITTED TO SECRETARY OF THE STATE

  4. PUBLIC ACT 21-51

  5. IN CONCURRENCE

  6. HOUSE PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

  7. HOUSE ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

  8. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 358

  9. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  10. SEN. PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

  11. SEN. ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

  12. FILE NO. 249

  13. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 178

  14. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  15. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  16. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/21

  17. FILED WITH LCO

  18. Joint Favorable

  19. PUBLIC HEARING 0223

  20. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Veterans' Affairs

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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11 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 176 not signed on

Sponsors (11)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (176)

176 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 914?
SB 914 is sponsored by Michael DiGiovancarlo (Democratic), Phipps, Quentin W., Saud Anwar (Democratic), Tom Delnicki (Republican), Tammy Nuccio (Republican), Betts, Whit, Tony Hwang (Republican), Minnie Gonzalez (Democratic), Dave W. Yaccarino (Republican), Henry J. Genga (Democratic), and Jane M. Garibay (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 914?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2021. Enacted.
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