July 26, 2013

Bolinsky: New Laws on the Books for Veterans

This article was archived from the previous WordPress site. Formatting and media should be close, but may not match the original post perfectly.

This past session, our state took a big step forward for veterans following their military service. Here are a few examples of the new laws passed:

CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD MEDAL OF ACHIEVEMENT
PA 13-247, establishes a medal of achievement to be awarded to any Connecticut National Guard member for outstanding achievement or meritorious service during military service ordered by the governor, including state service, federal service, and emergency service in other states conducted under the emergency management assistance compact.

DISPLAY OF FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF AND ON CEMETERY GRAVES
PA 13-44 makes changes affecting the display of U.S. and state flags (1) at half-staff following the death of certain government officials, citizens, or armed forces members and (2) at veterans’ graves before Memorial Day.

ELIGIBILITY FOR UNEMPLOYED ARMED FORCES MEMBER SUBSIDIZED TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
PA 13-63 expands eligibility for the state’s Unemployed Armed Forces Subsidized Training and Employment Program to include all unemployed, honorably discharged U.S. armed forces members (Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, reserves, and state National Guards performing federal duty) who served for at least 90 days.

HONORARY DIPLOMAS FOR VIETNAM VETERANS
PA 13-57 allows local and regional school boards to award high school diplomas to Vietnam Era veterans who left high school for military service before graduating, as they can already do for World War II and Korean War veterans. The act covers honorably or generally discharged veterans who served actively from February 28, 1961 to July 1, 1975 in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Air Force or any of their reserve components, including the Connecticut National Guard performing certain duty under federal law.

MILITARY LEAVE FROM EMPLOYMENT
PA 13-49 extends employment protections already afforded to employees who are U.S. armed forces reservists or National Guard members to all members of the state armed forces who take time from their employment to perform ordered military duty and (2) expands the type of protected duty from meetings and drills to all ordered military duty. Workplace protections include (1) being permitted a leave of absence when the member is ordered to military duty, including meetings and drills, during regular working hours, and (2) protection from loss of vacation or holiday privileges, or prejudice in promotions, continuances, or re-appointments of employment due to absences.

MUNICIPAL OPTION FOR AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR 100% DISABLED VETERANS
PA 13-224 allows municipalities to increase the additional property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans with limited income from two times the veteran’s base exemption to three times that exemption.

For the full list of acts affecting our veterans, click here.