House File 374 - Reprinted
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, establishing a hepatitis C awareness program
5 for veterans, concerning funds in an account for a state
6 veterans cemetery, and providing an effective date.
7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
8 HF 374
9 ec/es/25
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. NEW SECTION. 135.20 HEPATITIS C AWARENESS
2 2 PROGRAM == VETERANS == VACCINATIONS.
2 3 1. The department shall establish and administer a
2 4 hepatitis C awareness program. The goal of the program shall
2 5 be to distribute information to veterans regarding the higher
2 6 incidence of hepatitis C exposure and infection among
2 7 veterans, the dangers presented by the disease, and contacts
2 8 for additional information and referrals. For purposes of
2 9 this section, "veteran" means an individual meeting the
2 10 definition contained in section 35.1.
2 11 2. The information to be distributed shall be determined
2 12 by the department by rule, in consultation with the commission
2 13 of veterans affairs. The information shall, at a minimum,
2 14 contain statements indicating that:
2 15 a. The federal department of veterans affairs estimates a
2 16 hepatitis C infection rate in veterans more than three times
2 17 higher than for the general population.
2 18 b. The infection rate for Vietnam veterans is estimated to
2 19 be even higher than for other veterans groups.
2 20 c. The disease is caused by a bloodborne virus readily
2 21 transmitted during combat and combat=related emergency medical
2 22 treatment.
2 23 d. Many veterans currently carrying the virus were
2 24 infected prior to the development of medical screening tests.
2 25 e. The hepatitis C virus often resolves into a chronic
2 26 infection without symptoms for ten to thirty years before
2 27 signs of resultant liver disease appear.
2 28 f. This unusually long latency period makes it difficult
2 29 to connect current symptoms with an infection that may have
2 30 actually been contracted during military service decades ago.
2 31 The information shall also present treatment options and
2 32 shall specify a procedure to be followed for veterans desiring
2 33 a medical consultation for screening and treatment purposes.
2 34 The department shall cooperate with the state commission of
2 35 veterans affairs regarding distribution of the information to
3 1 the veterans home, the county commissions of veteran affairs,
3 2 veterans hospitals, and other appropriate points of
3 3 distribution.
3 4 Sec. 4. Section 483A.24, subsection 13, Code 2005, is
3 5 amended to read as follows:
3 6 13. Upon payment of the fee of thirty dollars for a
3 7 lifetime hunting and fishing combined license, the department
3 8 shall issue a hunting and fishing combined license to a
3 9 resident of Iowa who is a veteran, as defined in section 35.1
3 10 served in the armed forces of the United States for a minimum
3 11 aggregate of ninety days of active federal service, who was
3 12 disabled or was a prisoner of war during that veteran's
3 13 military service. The department shall prepare an application
3 14 to be used by a person requesting a hunting and fishing
3 15 combined license under this subsection. The commission of
3 16 veterans affairs shall assist the department in verifying the
3 17 status or claims of applicants under this subsection. As used
3 18 in this subsection, "disabled" means entitled to compensation
3 19 under the United States Code, Title 38, ch. 11.
3 20 Sec. 5. VETERANS HEPATITIS C AWARENESS PROGRAM REPORT.
3 21 The Iowa department of public health shall submit a report to
3 22 the members of the general assembly by January 1, 2007,
3 23 regarding the development and distribution of the information
3 24 required by the section of this Act enacting section 135.20
3 25 and any resulting impact.
3 26 Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. The section of this Act amending
3 27 section 35A.3, being deemed of immediate importance, takes
3 28 effect upon enactment.
3 29 HF 374
3 30 ec:rj/es/25