Bill Text: CT SB00857 | 2017 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Designating The Department Of Veterans Affairs Rocky Hill Campus As The Rocky Hill, Connecticut Veterans Center.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-25 - Moved to Foot of the Calendar, Senate [SB00857 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2017-SB00857-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Raised Bill No. 857 | ||
January Session, 2017 |
LCO No. 4008 | ||
*04008_______VA_* | |||
Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AFFAIRS |
|||
Introduced by: |
|||
(VA) |
|||
AN ACT DESIGNATING THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ROCKY HILL CAMPUS AS THE CONNECTICUT VETERANS CENTER.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 27-102l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(a) There shall be a Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Residential Services facility, as defined in subsection (b) of section 27-103, as amended by this act, shall be within the department and located upon the grounds of the department in Rocky Hill, which grounds shall be designated the Connecticut Veterans Center. The department head shall be the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, who shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, with the powers and duties prescribed therein.
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 27-102n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(a) There shall be a Board of Trustees for the Department of Veterans Affairs. On and after July 1, 2015, the board shall be comprised of eighteen voting members who by education or experience shall be qualified in health care, business management, social services or law and who shall have a demonstrated interest in the concerns of veterans. A majority of the members of the board shall be veterans, including veterans of armed conflicts authorized by the President of the United States. The members shall include (1) the president of the Veterans Residential Services facility's veterans council, (2) the president of the Healthcare Center's council, and (3) sixteen members appointed in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. As used in this section, "Veterans Residential Services facility" and "Healthcare Center" have the same meanings as provided in subsection (b) of section 27-103.
Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 27-103 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(b) As used in this part, "Veterans Residential Services facility" means the Veterans Residential Services facility at the Connecticut Veterans Center in Rocky Hill maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides temporary and other supported residential services for qualifying veterans; "hospital" means any incorporated hospital or tuberculosis sanatorium in the state and any state chronic disease hospital, or hospital for persons with mental illness; "Healthcare Center" means the hospital at the Connecticut Veterans Center in Rocky Hill maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs; "veteran" means any veteran, as defined in subsection (a) of this section, who is a resident of this state, provided, if he or she was not a resident or resident alien of this state at the time of enlistment or induction into the armed forces, he or she shall have resided continuously in this state for at least two years; "eligible dependent" means any parent, wife or husband, or child of a veteran who has no adequate means of support; and "eligible family member" means any parent, brother or sister, wife or husband, or child or children under eighteen years of age, of any veteran whose cooperation in the program is integral to the treatment of the veteran.
Sec. 4. Section 27-107 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(a) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall assign one or more state policemen for duty [upon the grounds of the Department of Veterans Affairs] at the Connecticut Veterans Center in Rocky Hill as may be requested by the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs.
(b) The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, subject to the approval of the Office of the State Traffic Administration, may: (1) Prohibit, limit, restrict or regulate the parking of vehicles; (2) determine speed limits; (3) install stop signs; (4) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic; (5) designate the location of crosswalks on any portion of any road or highway [upon the grounds of the Department of Veterans Affairs] at the Connecticut Veterans Center; and (6) erect and maintain signs designating such prohibitions or restrictions. Security officers or institutional patrolmen appointed to act as state policemen under the provisions of section 29-18 may arrest or issue a summons for violation of such restrictions or prohibitions. Any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars, and the court or traffic or parking authority having jurisdiction of traffic or parking violations in the town of Rocky Hill shall have jurisdiction over violations of this section.
Sec. 5. Section 27-140 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
All money so paid to and received by the American Legion shall be expended by it in furnishing temporary income; subsistence items such as food, wearing apparel, shelter and related expenses; medical or surgical aid or care or relief to, or in bearing the funeral expenses of, soldiers, sailors or marines who performed service in time of war, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, as amended by this act, in any branch of the military service of the United States, including the Connecticut National Guard, or who were engaged in any of the wars waged by the United States during said periods in the forces of any government associated with the United States, who have been honorably discharged therefrom or honorably released from active service therein, and who were citizens or resident aliens of the state at the time of entering said armed forces of the United States, including the Connecticut National Guard, or of any such government, or to their spouses who are living with them, or to their widows or widowers who were living with them at the time of death, or dependent children under eighteen years of age, who may be in need of the same. All such payments shall be made by the American Legion under authority of its bylaws, which bylaws shall set forth the procedure for proof of eligibility for such aid, provided payments made for the care and treatment of any person entitled to the benefits provided for herein, at any hospital receiving aid from the General Assembly unless special care and treatment are required, shall be in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-239, and provided the sum expended for the care or treatment of such person at any other place than a state-aided hospital shall in no case exceed the actual cost of supporting such person at the Healthcare Center, [in Rocky Hill maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs] as defined in subsection (b) of section 27-103, as amended by this act, unless special care and treatment are required, when such sum as may be determined by the treasurer of such organization may be paid therefor. Upon the completion of the trust provided for in section 27-138, the principal fund shall revert to the State Treasury.
Sec. 6. Section 38a-502 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
No individual health insurance policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after October 1, 1988, may exclude coverage for services provided by the Healthcare Center, [in Rocky Hill maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs] as defined in subsection (b) of section 27-103, as amended by this act.
Sec. 7. Section 38a-529 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
No group health insurance policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after October 1, 1988, may exclude coverage for services provided by the Healthcare Center, [in Rocky Hill maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs] as defined in subsection (b) of section 27-103, as amended by this act.
Sec. 8. Section 20-248 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit any resident of the Veterans Residential Services facility, [at Rocky Hill] as defined in subsection (b) of section 27-103, as amended by this act, from practicing the occupation of a master barber in said facility. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent any person holding a registered hairdresser and cosmetician's license under the provisions of chapter 387 from cutting the hair of any person, or to prevent any person licensed under the provisions of chapter 387 from carrying on the occupation of hairdresser and cosmetician. Nothing in this chapter or in chapter 387 shall be construed to prevent a licensed registered hairdresser and cosmetician from working in a barber shop or a licensed master barber from working in a hairdressing and cosmetology shop.
Sec. 9. Section 3-38 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(a) Prior to July 1, 2005, the Treasurer is directed to hold the fund known as the posthumous fund of Fitch's Home for the Soldiers in trust, to credit the income from said fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs to be used for the welfare and entertainment of the patients of the Veterans Residential Services facility, as defined in subsection (b) of section 27-103, as amended by this act, or any other home established by the state for the care of veterans and to pay from the principal thereof any claim which may be lawfully established against the same.
(b) Effective July 1, 2005, the Treasurer shall consolidate the posthumous fund of Fitch's Home for the Soldiers and the Fitch Fund. The name of the consolidated fund shall be the Fitch Fund. On and after July 1, 2005, the Treasurer shall hold the Fitch Fund in trust, to credit the income from said fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs to be used for the welfare and entertainment of the residents of the Veterans Residential Services facility, as defined in subsection (b) of section 27-103, as amended by this act, or any other home established by the state for the care of veterans and to pay from the principal thereof any claim that may be lawfully established against said fund.
Sec. 10. Subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 45a-649 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(3) The court shall order such notice as it directs to the following: (A) The applicant; (B) the person in charge of welfare in the town where the respondent is domiciled or resident and, if there is no such person, the first selectman or chief executive officer of the town if the respondent is receiving assistance from the town; (C) the Commissioner of Social Services, if the respondent is in a state-operated institution or receiving aid, care or assistance from the state; (D) the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs if the respondent is receiving veterans' benefits or the Veterans Residential Services facility, as defined in subsection (b) of section 27-103, as amended by this act, or both, if the respondent is receiving aid or care from said facility, or both; (E) the Commissioner of Administrative Services, if the respondent is receiving aid or care from the state; (F) the children of the respondent and if none, the parents of the respondent and if none, the brothers and sisters of the respondent or their representatives; (G) the person in charge of the hospital, nursing home or some other institution, if the respondent is in a hospital, nursing home or some other institution.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
October 1, 2017 |
27-102l(a) |
Sec. 2 |
October 1, 2017 |
27-102n(a) |
Sec. 3 |
October 1, 2017 |
27-103(b) |
Sec. 4 |
October 1, 2017 |
27-107 |
Sec. 5 |
October 1, 2017 |
27-140 |
Sec. 6 |
October 1, 2017 |
38a-502 |
Sec. 7 |
October 1, 2017 |
38a-529 |
Sec. 8 |
October 1, 2017 |
20-248 |
Sec. 9 |
October 1, 2017 |
3-38 |
Sec. 10 |
October 1, 2017 |
45a-649(a)(3) |
Statement of Purpose:
To designate the grounds of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Rocky Hill as the Connecticut Veterans Center.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]