Senate File 2017
SENATE FILE
BY WARNSTADT, KREIMAN, BOLKCOM
BEALL, SENG, DEARDEN, DVORSKY,
CONNOLLY, KIBBIE, RAGAN,
COURTNEY, DOTZLER, FRAISE,
GRONSTAL, STEWART, HORN,
QUIRMBACH, HATCH, McCOY,
HOLVECK, and BLACK
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the creation of a home modification grant
2 program for veterans, and making an appropriation.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 5159XS 80
5 pf/sh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 35A.13 HOME MODIFICATION GRANT
1 2 PROGRAM FOR VETERANS.
1 3 1. For the purposes of this section, "veteran" means the
1 4 same as defined in section 35.1 or a resident of this state
1 5 who served in the armed forces of the United States, completed
1 6 a minimum aggregate of ninety days of active federal service,
1 7 and was discharged under honorable conditions.
1 8 2. A veterans home modification grant program is created
1 9 under the control of the commission. The veterans home
1 10 modification grant program shall provide grants to veterans
1 11 who have a service=connected, permanent disability, rating
1 12 less than fifty percent as verified by the United States
1 13 department of veterans affairs or a branch of the United
1 14 States armed forces. Grants shall be awarded for home
1 15 modifications that are designed to meet the needs of the
1 16 veteran with the disability who will be residing in the home.
1 17 3. It is the intent of the general assembly that the
1 18 program be equitably accessible to eligible veterans
1 19 throughout the state.
1 20 4. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter
1 21 17A to administer the program.
1 22 a. The rules shall establish criteria for the awarding of
1 23 grants, including the maximum amount available per grant. In
1 24 determining the maximum amount available per grant, the
1 25 commission shall consider the number of potential recipients
1 26 statewide.
1 27 b. The rules shall provide that eligible modifications may
1 28 include but are not limited to any of the following:
1 29 (1) Bathroom modifications.
1 30 (2) Installation of grab bars and handrails.
1 31 (3) Kitchen modifications.
1 32 (4) Lifting devices.
1 33 (5) Main=level bathroom or bedroom additions.
1 34 (6) Ramp additions or repair.
1 35 (7) Sidewalk additions or repair.
2 1 (8) The widening of doorways or hallways.
2 2 c. The rules shall specify the types of eligible
2 3 residences, which shall include but are not limited to single=
2 4 family residences owned by the veteran.
2 5 d. The rules shall provide for a waiting list system to be
2 6 instituted if the total amount of the grants awarded in a
2 7 fiscal year exceeds available funding for that fiscal year.
2 8 Sec. 2. HOME MODIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS ==
2 9 APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated to the commission of
2 10 veterans affairs from the general fund of the state for the
2 11 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004, and ending June 30, 2005,
2 12 the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to
2 13 provide funding for grants awarded under the home modification
2 14 grant program for veterans created in section 35A.13:
2 15 .................................................. $ 50,000
2 16 EXPLANATION
2 17 This bill establishes a home modification grant program for
2 18 veterans under the control of the commission of veterans
2 19 affairs. The program would provide grants to veterans who
2 20 have a service=connected, permanent disability, rating less
2 21 than 50 percent for home modifications that are designed to
2 22 meet the needs of the veteran with the disability who will be
2 23 residing in the home. The bill directs the commission to
2 24 adopt rules to administer the program and provides a listing
2 25 of the types of modifications that are to be included under
2 26 the program.
2 27 The bill appropriates $50,000 to the commission of veterans
2 28 affairs from the general fund of the state for state fiscal
2 29 year 2004=2005 for the home modification grant program.
2 30 LSB 5159XS 80
2 31 pf/sh/8