Committee Bill No. 376 aims to amend existing laws to broaden eligibility for veterans' benefits in Connecticut by removing the requirement of "service in time of war" for various forms of assistance, including tuition waivers at regional community-technical colleges, the Connecticut State University System, and The University of Connecticut. The bill introduces new language that allows any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, who is domiciled in the state and accepted for admission to these institutions to receive tuition waivers. It also maintains other eligibility criteria for tuition waivers, such as provisions for dependent children of military personnel declared missing in action or prisoners of war, and specifies that veterans and National Guard members will have the same registration status as non-waiver students.

Additionally, the bill modifies the criteria for civil service examination ratings by removing the requirement that veterans must have served in wartime to qualify for additional points, focusing instead on their eligibility for disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The language throughout the bill has been updated to use gender-neutral terms, and it expands the definition of "disabled veteran" to include any veteran with service-connected disabilities, regardless of wartime service. The bill also broadens the scope of temporary financial assistance to any veteran in need due to disability or service-related causes, and it clarifies the types of assistance that can be provided by the American Legion. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and October 1, 2025, depending on the specific provisions.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 5-224, 7-415, 27-125, 27-140, 14-254, 27-76
VA Joint Favorable: 5-224, 7-415, 27-125, 27-140, 14-254, 27-76
File No. 36: 5-224, 7-415, 27-125, 27-140, 14-254, 27-76
APP Joint Favorable: 5-224, 7-415, 27-125, 27-140, 14-254, 27-76
FIN Joint Favorable: 5-224, 7-415, 27-125, 27-140, 14-254, 27-76