Senate File 2179 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY WARNSTADT, BEALL, STEWART,
RAGAN, KREIMAN, BLACK,
SENG, and McCOY
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 6030XS 81
5 ec/sh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 35A.14 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 department. 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 department of
2 10 veterans affairs from the general fund of the state for the
2 11 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006, and ending June 30, 2007,
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.14:
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 department 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 of
2 24 veterans affairs to adopt rules to administer the program and
2 25 provides a listing of the types of modifications that are to
2 26 be included under the program.
2 27 The bill appropriates $50,000 to the department of veterans
2 28 affairs from the general fund of the state for state fiscal
2 29 year 2006=2007 for the home modification grant program.
2 30 LSB 6030XS 81
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