The proposed General Assembly Committee Bill No. 376 seeks to broaden eligibility for state and municipal veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement of "service in time of war." This change specifically pertains to tuition waivers at regional community-technical colleges and the Connecticut State University System, allowing veterans who did not serve during wartime to qualify for these benefits, provided they meet other criteria such as state residency and admission acceptance. The bill repeals and replaces existing legal language in sections 10a-77 and 10a-99, removing the phrase "who performed service in time of war." It also maintains other eligibility categories for tuition waivers, including provisions for dependent children of military personnel missing in action or prisoners of war, and ensures that veterans and National Guard members have equal course registration status as other students.

In addition to tuition waivers, the bill amends laws regarding financial assistance and employment rating points for veterans. It removes the wartime service requirement for temporary financial assistance from the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and updates the language to be gender-neutral. The bill also expands eligibility for tuition waivers to include residents aged 62 and older, active National Guard members, and dependent children of public service personnel killed in the line of duty. Furthermore, it modifies civil service examination criteria by eliminating the wartime service requirement for additional rating points for veterans and their spouses. Overall, the bill aims to enhance support for veterans and their families by broadening access to educational and financial benefits.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 5-224, 7-415, 27-125, 27-140, 14-254, 27-76