2016 -- H 7441

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LC003604

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE - BURIAL OF VETERANS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Malik, Gallison, Azzinaro, Melo, and Hull

     Date Introduced: February 03, 2016

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 30-25-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-25 entitled "Burial of

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Veterans" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     30-25-14. Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery. – (a) The Rhode Island veterans'

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memorial cemetery located on the grounds of the Joseph H. Ladd school in the town of Exeter

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shall be under the management and control of the director of the department of human services.

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The director of the department of human services shall appoint an administrator for the Rhode

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Island veterans' memorial cemetery who shall be an honorably discharged veteran of the United

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States Armed Forces and shall have the general supervision over and shall prescribe rules for the

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government and management of the cemetery. He or she shall make all needful rules and

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regulations governing the operation of the cemetery and generally may do all things necessary to

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insure the successful operation thereof. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations, not

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inconsistant with the provisions of 38 USCS section 2402, to govern the eligibility for burial in

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the Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery. In addition to all persons eligible for burial

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pursuant to rules and regulations established by the director, any person who served in the army,

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navy, air force, or marine corps of the United States for a period of not less than two (2) years and

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whose service was terminated honorably, shall be eligible for burial in the Rhode Island veterans'

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memorial cemetery. The director shall appoint and employ all subordinate officials and persons

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needed for the proper management of the cemetery. National Guard members who are killed in

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the line of duty or who are honorably discharged after completion of at least twenty (20) years' of

 

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service in the Rhode Island National Guard and their spouse shall be eligible for internment in the

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Rhode Island Veterans' Memorial Cemetery. For the purpose of computing service under this

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section, honorable service in the active forces or reserves shall be considered toward the twenty

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(20) years of National Guard service. The general assembly shall make an annual appropriation to

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the department of human services to provide for the operation and maintenance for the cemetery.

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The director shall charge and collect a grave liner fee per interment of the eligible spouse and/or

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eligible dependents of the qualified veteran equal to the Department's cost for the grave liner.

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     (b) No domestic animal shall be allowed on the grounds of the Rhode Island veterans'

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memorial cemetery whether at large or under restraint, except for seeing eye guide dogs, hearing

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ear signal dogs, or any other service dog permitted by the cemetery administrator. Any person

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who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred

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dollars ($500).

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE - BURIAL OF VETERANS

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     This act would prohibit the walking of any domestic animal on the grounds of the

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Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Exeter. An exception would be made for service dogs.

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Violations would be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500).

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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