Veterans' Affairs Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6480
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE FUNERAL EXPENSES OF CERTAIN VETERANS.
Vote Date: 3/18/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 2/23/2021
File No.: 239
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Veterans' Affairs Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill amends Section 27-118 of the CGS to expand the funeral expenses for which the
families of certain deceased veterans can be reimbursed. This offers families the flexibility to
use these financial resources on a wider list of funeral expenses, including obituaries, which
can be prohibitively expensive.
***Proposed Substitute Language: In section (f), line 44, definition of "funeral expenses" was
expanded to "(A) the cost of funeral services, funeral merchandise and cash advances paid
by the funeral director, (B) the cost of burial, cremation or disposition, and (C) the cost of
publication of an obituary. "Funeral merchandise" includes, but is not limited to, alternate
containers, caskets, urns, vaults, and outer burial containers." This language was expanded
at the request of Connecticut Funeral Directors Association to create more clarity on allowed
expenses.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None expressed
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Nicole Paquette, Co-Legislative Chair, Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, Inc.: Ms.
Paquette submitted written and spoken testimony in support of this bill. She shared her
experience as a funeral director and provided a proposed amendment to better define the
meaning of "funeral expenses."
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None expressed
Reported by: Erica Byrne, Clerk Date: March 25, 2021
Page 2 of 2 HB-6480


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 27-118
VA Joint Favorable Substitute: 27-118
File No. 239: 27-118
Public Act No. 21-112: 27-118