SF 2297 (LSB 5554SV (2) 83)

SENATE FILE 2297

BY  COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 2183)

A BILL FOR

An Act concerning veterans and military service, including waivers and refunds of certain fees, use of state facilities, public utility disconnection of service, and declarations for disposition of remains.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  29A.14A  Use of government facilities.

   Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the state or any political subdivision of the state, shall permit the rental of facilities under its control, for a fee not in excess of any expenses incurred by the state or political subdivision, for designated military events. For purposes of this section, “designated military event” means an event, authorized by the adjutant general, for military family readiness groups or for returning veterans of the national guard, reserves, or regular components of the armed forces of the United States for a period of up to one year from the date of return from active duty.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  144.13B  Waiver of fees —— military service.

   Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the certified copy fees for a birth certificate or death certificate of a service member, as defined in section 29A.90, who died while on active duty shall be waived for a period of one year from the date of death for a family member of the deceased service member.
    Sec. 3.  Section 144C.6, Code 2009, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  A declaration for disposition of remains made by a service member, as defined in section 29A.90, on forms provided and authorized by the department of defense for service members for this purpose shall constitute a valid declaration of designee for purposes of this chapter.
    Sec. 4.  Section 476.20, subsection 3, Code 2009, is amended by adding the following new unnumbered paragraph:
   NEW UNNUMBERED PARGRAPH.  The rules established by the board shall provide that a public utility furnishing gas or electricity shall not disconnect service to a residence in which one of the heads of household is a service member deployed for military service, as defined in section 29A.90, prior to a date ninety days after the end of the service member's deployment, if the public utility is informed of the deployment.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  483A.24A  License refunds —— military service.

   Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, a service member deployed for military service, both as defined in section 29A.90, shall receive a refund of that portion of any license fee paid by the service member representing the service member’s period of military service.
EXPLANATION
   This bill concerns veterans and military service, adding Code provisions relating to fees, use of state facilities, public utilities, and disposition of remains.
   New Code section 29A.14A requires the state, or a political subdivision of the state, to allow the use of facilities under its control for certain designated military events for not more than the cost of expenses. The Code section defines a designated military event as an event, authorized by the adjutant general, for military family readiness groups or for returning veterans for a period of up to one year from the date of return from active duty.
   New Code section 144.13B waives the fees for a birth or death certificate of a service member who dies while on active duty for a period of one year from the date of death for a family member of the deceased service member.
   Code section 144C.6, concerning a declaration of a designee for disposition of remains, is amended to provide that a declaration for disposition of remains made by a service member on forms provided and authorized by the department of defense for service members for this purpose shall constitute a valid declaration of designee.
   Code section 476.20, relating to the disconnection of utilities, is amended to provide that a public utility furnishing gas or electricity shall not disconnect service to a residence in which one of the heads of household is a service member deployed for military service prior to a date 90 days after the end of the service member’s deployment.
   New Code section 483A.24A provides that a service member deployed for military service shall receive a refund of that portion of any fishing or hunting license fee paid by the service member representing the service member’s period of military service.