Senate Bill 295
Enrolled Senate Bill (S)
DIGEST
Requires that state income tax forms be modified to enable a taxpayer to donate all or part of the taxpayer's tax refund to the military family relief fund (fund). Requires the Indiana veterans' affairs commission to submit an annual report to the governor and the legislative council on matters concerning the welfare of veterans. Requires an individual employed as a county or city service officer to become accredited by a national veterans service organization through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel not later than one year from the date of the individual's employment, in order
Requires that state income tax forms be modified to enable a taxpayer to donate all or part of the taxpayer's tax refund to the military family relief fund (fund). Requires the Indiana veterans' affairs commission to submit an annual report to the governor and the legislative council on matters concerning the welfare of veterans. Requires an individual employed as a county or city service officer to become accredited by a national veterans service organization through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel not later than one year from the date of the individual's employment, in order
to represent veterans. Amends the definition of "qualified service member" for purposes of the fund. Amends the purpose of the fund to provide only for short term financial assistance to families of qualified service members for hardships that result from the qualified service members' military service. Specifies that the assistance from the fund may include an emergency one time grant. Specifies statutory eligibility provisions concerning grants from the fund, to be supplemented with rules adopted by the Indiana veterans' affairs commission (commission). Provides that the commission shall adopt income eligibility standards, asset limit eligibility standards, and other standards concerning when assistance may be provided from the fund. Provides that the commission's rules must provide for a consideration of the extent to which an individual has used assistance available from other assistance programs before assistance may be provided to the individual from the fund. Specifies that the veterans' affairs trust fund is considered a trust fund for purposes of the statute prohibiting the state board of finance from transferring money from a trust fund. Includes a county service officer appointed by the governor in the membership of the Indiana veterans' affairs commission. Provides that the commission shall annually determine by formula whether there is excess money in the veterans' affairs trust fund and transfer that excess, if any, to the fund. Urges the legislative council to assign to a study committee the topic of whether or not grants for assistance from the military family relief fund should be paid directly to vendors on behalf of a qualified service member or dependents of the qualified service member. Provides that the study committee shall issue a final report to the legislative council containing the study committee's findings and recommendations not later than November 1, 2016. Makes technical corrections.
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