Written Testimony: State Representative Mark DeCaprio Praises S.B. 237 to Support Military Honor Guards

S.B. 237 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR MILITARY

FUNERAL HONOR GUARD DETAIL COMPENSATION

Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs

February 27, 2024

Dear Co-Chairs Marx, Nolan, Ranking Members Cicarella, Vail, and distinguished members of the Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs.

Thank you for raising S.B. 237 for a public hearing and allowing me a chance to submit testimony on this very important bill.

There are 12 Military Honor Guard Squads in Connecticut that provide “Military Honors” to departed veterans across the state. One of these squads resides in the great Town of Colchester and responds to some 250 funerals in a calendar year. This is a great service that is provided for our recently departed veterans.

The purpose of S.B. 237 is to establish a personal income tax deduction for compensation received for performing Honor Guard Squad duties as authorized by CGS Section 27-76 and will have a minimal budgetary impact.

Passing this legislation will allow squad members to have the reimbursement funds as well as the ability to offset some of the costs necessary for all of the following expenses they incur.

Examples of expenses that Honor Guard Squads and members incur:

• Travel expenses to and from each funeral
• Rifle or firearm maintenance, cleaning, and repairs
• Purchase and maintain a personal weapons grade safe
• Purchase and maintain trigger locks to safely store and transport rifles
• Purchase of ammunition
• Batteries for bugles
• Replacement of cloth bags which are used to present expended brass to the veteran’s family

Honor Guard members are expected to purchase and maintain their uniform. Uniform parts include:

• Maintain and cleaning of uniforms used by Honor Guard members (explained below)
• Military style hat
• Uniform shirts (2)
• Uniform trousers (2)
• Military belt and buckle
• Black military style shoes
• A military style rain/overcoat with liner
• A military style black sweater with epaulets
• Several pairs of white gloves

Maintenance of the uniform must be done monthly (more often in hot weather) in order to maintain the proper appearance. This includes:

• Laundry cost for military pressing of the two shirts
• Cleaning and pressing of uniform trousers
• Black polish for military shoes
• Dry cleaning of the military sweater
• Dry cleaning of the rain/overcoat and liner

The equipment and maintenance list are extensive and passing this legislation will enable these fine Honor Guard Squads to continue to provide this good service and minimize the amount of expenses each member has to contribute.

Lastly, this bill is our way to express our lasting gratitude for the sacrifices that our Veterans made to defend our country so that we can live free.

Thank you for your consideration.