2023 -- H 5128

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LC000217

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- RHODE ISLAND VETERANS'

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     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Noret, Donovan, Hull, Corvese, J
Lombardi, Diaz, Azzinaro, Casimiro, and Kazarian

     Date Introduced: January 12, 2023

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 30-24-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-24 entitled "Rhode

Island Veterans’ Home" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     30-24-10. Admissible to home — Fees.

     (a) Any person who has served in the army, navy, marine corps, coast guard, or air force

of the United States for a period of ninety (90) days or more and that period began or ended during

any foreign war in which the United States shall have been engaged or in any expedition or

campaign for which the United States government issues a campaign medal, and who was

honorably discharged from it, and who shall be deemed to be in need of care provided at the Rhode

Island veterans’ home, may be admitted to that facility subject to such rules and regulations as shall

be adopted by the director of human services to govern the admission of applicants to the facility.

Any person who has served in the armed forces of the United States designated herein and otherwise

qualified, who has served less than the ninety-day (90) period described in this section, and who

was honorably discharged from service, and who, as a result of the service, acquired a service-

connected disability or disease, may be admitted. No person shall be admitted to the facility unless

the person has been accredited to the enlistment or induction quota of the state or has resided in the

state for at least two (2) consecutive years next prior to the date of the application for admission to

the facility.

     (1) In addition to the guidelines set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the following

persons shall also be eligible for admission:

     (i) Any person who served in the army, navy, marine corps, coast guard, or air force of the

United States for a period of ninety (90) days during the Cold War;

     (ii) Any veteran as described in subsection (a) of this section who is receiving Veteran

Administration service connected disability, who served less than ninety (90) days on active service

during war time; or

     (iii) Any veteran as described in subsection (a) of this section who is retired from the Rhode

Island national guard, and does not have ninety (90) days of active service during war time.

     (b)(1) The director shall, at the end of each fiscal year, determine the net, per-diem

expenses of maintenance of residents in the facility and shall assess against each resident who has

“net income”, as defined in this section, a fee equal to eighty percent (80%) of the resident’s net

income, provided that fee shall not exceed the actual cost of care and maintenance for the resident;

and provided that an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the maintenance fee assessed shall

be allocated to, and deposited in, the veterans’ restricted account. For the purposes of this section,

“net income” is defined as gross income minus applicable federal and state taxes and minus:

     (i) An amount equal to one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per month of residency and fifty

percent (50%) of any sum received due to wounds incurred under battle conditions for which the

resident received the purple heart; and

     (ii) The amount paid by a resident for the support and maintenance of his or her spouse,

parent(s), minor child(ren), or child(ren) who is/are blind or permanently and totally disabled as

defined in title XVI of the Federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1381 — 1383d, subject to a

maximum amount to be determined by rules and regulations as shall be adopted by the director.

     (2) The fees shall be paid monthly to the home and any failure to make payment when due

shall be cause for dismissal from the facility. Prior to dismissal, the resident shall be afforded

administrative due process.

     (c) Admissions to the veterans’ home shall be made without discrimination as to race,

color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity

or expression, assets, or income.

     (d) Laundry services shall be provided to the residents of the Rhode Island veterans’ home

at no charge to the residents, with such funds to cover the cost of providing laundry services for

residents of the Rhode Island veterans’ home derived from monies appropriated to the department

of human services.

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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 -- RHODE ISLAND VETERANS'

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     This act would allow veterans who served during the Cold War, veterans who are receiving

veteran administration connected disability, and Rhode Island National Guard member with less

than ninety (90) days of war time service to be allowed admission into the Rhode Island Veterans'

Home.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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