2022 -- H 7750 | |
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LC004986 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- VETERANS' AFFAIRS | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Perez, Noret, McEntee, Solomon, | |
Date Introduced: March 02, 2022 | |
Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 30-17.1 of the General Laws entitled "Veterans' Affairs" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 30-17.1-4.1. Airborne hazards and open burn pit registry. |
4 | (a) The office of veterans services shall establish an airborne hazards and open burn pit |
5 | registry (AHOBPR) to help identify and document veterans who may have incurred potential health |
6 | effects of airborne hazard exposures during their time of service in a combat theater. |
7 | (b) Veterans are eligible to participate in the registry if they were deployed to the southwest |
8 | Asia theater of operations any time on or after August 2, 1990, or Afghanistan or Djibouti on or |
9 | after September 11, 2001. |
10 | (1) These regions and countries include: Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, |
11 | Djibouti, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the waters of the |
12 | Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea. |
13 | (2) These operations and campaigns include: Desert Shield and Desert Storm (ODS/S), |
14 | Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Enduring Freedom (OEF), and New Dawn (OND). |
15 | (c) By joining the registry, airborne hazard exposure is on record for veterans and their |
16 | dependents in the event of long-term health conditions which may be related to these exposures. |
17 | To participate, the veteran shall not be required to have experienced any symptoms or illnesses |
18 | which may be related to exposures during military service; provided, however, a copy of the |
19 | veteran's DD-214, with the social security number redacted, must be filed to authenticate when the |
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1 | potential exposure occurred. |
2 | 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 -- VETERANS' AFFAIRS | |
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1 | This act would establish a registry of veterans exposed to airborne hazards and open burn |
2 | pits while serving in the southwest Asia theater of operations on or after August 2, 1990, or |
3 | Afghanistan or Djibouti on or after September 11, 2001. The registry would help identify and |
4 | document veterans who may have incurred potential long-term health effects or conditions related |
5 | to this exposure during their time of service in a combat theater. |
6 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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