HB1353 (2012) Detail

Relative to establishing an individual's status as a veteran.


HB 1353 – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

22Feb2012… 0666h

05/02/12 1828s

2012 SESSION

12-2139

03/10

HOUSE BILL 1353

AN ACT relative to establishing an individual’s status as a veteran and relative to the Honor and Remember Flag as an official symbol to recognize and honor fallen members of the armed forces and relative to certain maintenance at the rotary in the town of Epsom.

SPONSORS: Rep. Baldasaro, Rock 3; Rep. Tamburello, Rock 3; Rep. Graham, Hills 18; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr 10; Rep. Weyler, Rock 8; Rep. Griffin, Rock 4; Rep. R. Ober, Hills 27; Rep. Tucker, Rock 17; Rep. O’Brien, Hills 4; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Lambert, Dist 13

COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Adds a notarized statement of service letter to the documents accepted to establish an individual’s status as a veteran.

II. Specifies that training for active duty shall be included as service for purposes of the veterans’ tax credit.

III. Adopts the national Honor and Remember Flag as the official symbol of the state of New Hampshire to recognize and honor fallen members of the armed forces.

IV. Requires the department of transportation to properly maintain the flags and landscaping at the rotary in the town of Epsom.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22Feb2012… 0666h

05/02/12 1828s

12-2139

03/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT relative to establishing an individual’s status as a veteran and relative to the Honor and Remember Flag as an official symbol to recognize and honor fallen members of the armed forces and relative to certain maintenance at the rotary in the town of Epsom.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Documents Used to Establish Veteran Status. Amend RSA 21:50, I(b)(21) to read as follows:

(21) Notarized statement of service letter signed by the individual’s commanding officer or administrative officer.

(22) Other documents approved by the director, state office of veterans services.

2 Veterans’ Tax Credit; Service. Amend RSA 72:28, IV(a) to read as follows:

(a) Every resident of this state who served not less than 90 days in the armed forces of the United States in any qualifying war or armed conflict listed in this section and was honorably discharged or an officer honorably separated from service; or the spouse or surviving spouse of such resident, provided that Title 10 training for active duty by a member of a national guard or reserve shall be included as service under this subparagraph;

3 Statement of Purpose. The general court finds that:

I. Since the Revolutionary War, more than 1,000,000 members of the United States Armed Forces have paid the ultimate price by sacrificing their lives in the line of duty.

II. The contributions of those fallen members of the Armed Forces are deserving of national recognition.

III. Currently, there is no officially recognized symbol that solely acknowledges members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty.

4 New Sections; Honor and Remember Flag. Amend RSA 3 by inserting after section 3-b the following new sections:

3:3-c Official Adoption of Honor and Remember Flag. The Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc, is hereby adopted as this state’s emblem of the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives in the line of duty.

3:3-d Display of Honor and Remember Flag. The Honor and Remember Flag shall be displayed above the state house in Concord immediately below the state flag on the following days:

I. Gold Star Mother’s Day, the first Sunday after Easter.

II. Memorial Day, the last Monday in May.

III. Independence Day, July 4.

5 Maintenance of Rotary. The department of transportation shall properly maintain the flag of the United States, the POW-MIA flag, and the landscaping at the rotary in the town of Epsom.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.