House File 374 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON STATE
GOVERNMENT
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 91)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to veterans by providing for the compensation of
2 members of a county commission of veteran affairs, providing
3 for the issuance of combined hunting and fishing licenses to
4 certain veterans, concerning funds in an account for a state
5 veterans cemetery, and providing an effective date.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
7 TLSB 1857HV 81
8 ec/cf/24
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 35A.3, subsection 14, Code 2005, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 14. To establish and operate a state veterans cemetery and
1 4 to make application to the government of the United States or
1 5 any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, for funds
1 6 for the purpose of establishing such a cemetery. The state
1 7 may enter into agreements with any subdivision of the state
1 8 for assistance in operating the cemetery. The state shall own
1 9 the land on which the cemetery is located. The commission
1 10 shall have the authority to accept federal grant funds,
1 11 funding from state subdivisions, donations from private
1 12 sources, and federal "plot allowance" payments. All such
1 13 funds shall be deposited into an account dedicated to the
1 14 establishment, operation, and maintenance of a veterans
1 15 cemetery and these funds shall be expended only for those
1 16 purposes. The commission through the executive director shall
1 17 have the authority to accept suitable cemetery land, in
1 18 accordance with federal veterans cemetery grant guidelines,
1 19 from the federal government, state government, state
1 20 subdivisions, private sources, and any other source wishing to
1 21 transfer land for use as a veterans cemetery. Notwithstanding
1 22 section 8.33, any moneys in the account for a state veterans
1 23 cemetery shall not revert and, notwithstanding section 12C.7,
1 24 subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys deposited in the
1 25 fund shall be credited to the account.
1 26 Sec. 2. Section 35B.5, Code 2005, is amended to read as
1 27 follows:
1 28 35B.5 COMPENSATION.
1 29 A member of the commission shall receive twenty=five
1 30 dollars or a greater amount as established by the board of
1 31 supervisors for each month during which the member attends one
1 32 or more commission meetings and shall be reimbursed for
1 33 mileage the same as a member of the board of supervisors.
1 34 Compensation and mileage shall be paid out of the
1 35 appropriation authorized in section 35B.14.
2 1 Sec. 3. Section 483A.24, subsection 13, Code 2005, is
2 2 amended to read as follows:
2 3 13. Upon payment of the fee of thirty dollars for a
2 4 lifetime hunting and fishing combined license, the department
2 5 shall issue a hunting and fishing combined license to a
2 6 resident of Iowa who is a veteran, as defined in section 35.1
2 7 served in the armed forces of the United States for a minimum
2 8 aggregate of ninety days of active federal service, who was
2 9 disabled or was a prisoner of war during that veteran's
2 10 military service. The department shall prepare an application
2 11 to be used by a person requesting a hunting and fishing
2 12 combined license under this subsection. The commission of
2 13 veterans affairs shall assist the department in verifying the
2 14 status or claims of applicants under this subsection. As used
2 15 in this subsection, "disabled" means entitled to compensation
2 16 under the United States Code, Title 38, ch. 11.
2 17 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. The section of this Act amending
2 18 section 35A.3, being deemed of immediate importance, takes
2 19 effect upon enactment.
2 20 EXPLANATION
2 21 This bill deals with issues concerning veterans.
2 22 Code section 35A.3 is amended to provide that moneys
2 23 deposited into an account for the establishment, operation,
2 24 and maintenance of a state veterans cemetery shall not revert
2 25 at the end of each fiscal year and interest or earnings on
2 26 moneys deposited in the account shall be credited to the
2 27 account. This portion of the bill takes effect upon
2 28 enactment.
2 29 Code section 35B.5 is amended to provide that the county
2 30 board of supervisors may increase the compensation received by
2 31 a member of a county commission of veteran affairs for each
2 32 month in which the member attends commission meetings from the
2 33 current fixed amount of $25 per month.
2 34 Code section 483A.24 is amended by changing the definition
2 35 of which resident veterans, who were disabled or were
3 1 prisoners of war during their military service, qualify to
3 2 purchase a lifetime hunting and fishing combined license. The
3 3 bill changes the definition of "veteran" from the definition
3 4 contained in Code section 35.1 to instead include any Iowa
3 5 resident who served in the armed forces of the United States
3 6 for a minimum aggregate of 90 days of active federal service.
3 7 LSB 1857HV 81
3 8 ec:rj/cf/24