House File 2168
HOUSE FILE
BY LUKAN
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act creating a board to oversee the administration of the
2 veterans trust fund.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 5852HH 80
5 jr/sh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 35A.13, subsection 2, Code Supplement
1 2 2003, is amended to read as follows:
1 3 2. A veterans trust fund is created in the state treasury
1 4 under the control of the commission veterans trust fund board.
1 5 a. The board shall consist of five members appointed by
1 6 the governor subject to confirmation by the senate to
1 7 staggered terms of four years commencing and ending as
1 8 provided in section 69.19. The commission shall provide staff
1 9 as necessary for board operations.
1 10 b. All members of the board must be members of a veterans
1 11 organization that holds a federal charter from the United
1 12 States government.
1 13 c. The members shall be paid a per diem as specified in
1 14 section 7E.6 and shall be reimbursed for necessary and actual
1 15 expenses incurred in attending meetings and in the performance
1 16 of their duties.
1 17 Sec. 2. Section 35A.13, subsection 5, Code Supplement
1 18 2003, is amended to read as follows:
1 19 5. The minimum balance of the trust fund required prior to
1 20 expenditure of moneys from the trust fund is fifty million
1 21 dollars. Once the minimum balance is reached, the interest
1 22 and earnings on the fund and any moneys received under
1 23 subsection 3, paragraph "a", are appropriated to the
1 24 commission board to be used to achieve the purposes of this
1 25 section.
1 26 Sec. 3. Section 35A.13, subsection 6, Code Supplement
1 27 2003, is amended to read as follows:
1 28 6. Moneys appropriated to the commission board under this
1 29 section shall not be used to supplant funding previously
1 30 provided by other sources. The moneys may be expended upon a
1 31 majority vote of the commission board membership for the
1 32 benefit of veterans and the spouses and dependents of
1 33 veterans, for any of the following purposes:
1 34 a. College tuition aid.
1 35 b. Job training aid.
2 1 c. Expenses relating to an individual receiving care by a
2 2 nursing facility that are not payable by any other sources.
2 3 d. c. Benefits provided to children of disabled or
2 4 deceased veterans.
2 5 e. d. Unemployment aid needed during a veteran's
2 6 unemployment due to prolonged illness or disability resulting
2 7 from military service. A diagnosed case of mental distress
2 8 due to military service=related activities shall be included
2 9 as a disability under this paragraph.
2 10 f. e. Other purposes identified by the commission board.
2 11 Sec. 4. Section 35A.13, Code Supplement 2003, is amended
2 12 by adding the following new subsection:
2 13 NEW SUBSECTION. 7. Any person aggrieved or adversely
2 14 affected by a decision of the board may request a contested
2 15 case hearing pursuant to the provisions of chapter 17A.
2 16 EXPLANATION
2 17 The veterans trust fund is currently administered by the
2 18 state commission of veterans affairs. This bill creates a
2 19 five=member board to administer the fund. All members must be
2 20 a member of a veterans organization which holds a federal
2 21 charter. The bill also precludes using the fund to pay
2 22 nursing facility care expenses for veterans and their spouses
2 23 and their dependents.
2 24 LSB 5852HH 80
2 25 jr/sh/8