2019 -- S 0914

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LC002275

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE - BURIAL OF VETERANS

     Introduced By: Senator Frank S. Lombardi

     Date Introduced: May 22, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Veterans" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     30-25-14. Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery.

     (a) The Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery, located on the grounds of the Joseph

H. Ladd school in the town of Exeter, shall be under the management and control of the director

of the department of human services. The director of the department of human services shall

appoint an administrator for the Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery who shall be an

honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces and shall have the general

supervision over, and shall prescribe rules for, the government and management of the cemetery.

He or she shall make all needful rules and regulations governing the operation of the cemetery

and generally may do all things necessary to ensure the successful operation thereof. The director

shall promulgate rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 2402,

to govern the eligibility for burial in the Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery. In addition to

all persons eligible for burial pursuant to rules and regulations established by the director, any

person who served in the army, navy, air force, or marine corps of the United States for a period

of not less than two (2) years and whose service was terminated honorably, shall be eligible for

burial in the Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery. The director shall appoint and employ all

subordinate officials and persons needed for the proper management of the cemetery. National

guard members who are killed in the line of duty or who are honorably discharged after

completion of at least twenty (20) years' of service in the Rhode Island national guard and their

spouse shall be eligible for interment in the Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery. For the

purpose of computing service under this section, honorable service in the active forces or reserves

shall be considered toward the twenty (20) years of national guard service. The general assembly

shall make an annual appropriation to the department of human services to provide for the

operation and maintenance for the cemetery. The director shall charge and collect a grave liner

fee per interment of the eligible spouse and/or eligible dependents of the qualified veteran equal

to the department's cost for the grave liner. Veterans qualifying under this subsection may

designate a domestic partner who meets the requirements in §§ 36-12-1(3)(i) through (3)(v) to be

buried with them.

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

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

ear signal dogs or any other service animal, as required by federal law or any personal assistance

animal, as required by chapter 9.1 of title 40. Any person who violates the provisions of this

section shall be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500).

     (c) The state of Rhode Island office of veterans' affairs shall bear the cost of all tolls

incurred by any motor vehicles that are part of a veteran's funeral procession, originating from

Aquidneck Island ending at the veterans' memorial cemetery, for burial or internment. The

executive director of the turnpike and bridge authority shall assist in the administration and

coordination of this toll reimbursement program.

     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 allow a veteran who qualifies to be buried at the Rhode Island veterans'

memorial cemetery to designate a domestic partner to be buried with them.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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