Chapter 095
2018 -- H 7795 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/28/2018

A N   A C T
RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE

Introduced By: Representatives Ruggiero, Shekarchi, Canario, Vella-Wilkinson, and
Date Introduced: February 28, 2018

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.
     (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 veteran 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 veterans’ memorial
cemetery, for burial or internment. The executive director of the Turnpike turnpike and Bridge
Authority 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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LC004844/SUB A
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