COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN: Standing Committee on Veterans and Armed Forces
This bill creates the "Veterans' Grave Marker Trust Fund" for the purpose of repairing or reseting grave markers for deceased veterans at cemeteries located in this State that have been damaged by natural causes.
The Commission must establish a grant program to provide reimbursement for the repairing or resetting of certain grave markers of deceased veterans. The Commission will award a grant for reimbursement if the deceased veteran:
(1) Has served at least 180 days as an active-duty member of the U.S. military service or died while on official military duty status as an active-duty member;
(2) Was discharged under honorable conditions and was never convicted of a State or Federal criminal offense or any capital criminal offense;
(3) Did not die under circumstances that would bring discredit upon the military services or the State; and
(4) Is buried or interred in a privately owned cemetery or burial plot within this State.
The bill requires the Commission to establish and post on its website the contents of the grant application, and the procedures and timelines by which property owners may apply for grants.
The Veterans' Commission will award grants on a first-come, first-served basis. The amount of the grant to be awarded will be equal the actual cost expended to repair or reset the grave marker but cannot exceed $2,500.
Statutes affected: