HB 1908 -- Veterans' Bonus

Co-Sponsors:  Sallee, Blunt, Champion, Secrest, Chrismer,
Cierpiot, Berkstresser, Reinhart

This bill requires the state to pay a $400 bonus to all
qualifying honorably discharged veterans who served during World
War II and who were legal residents of the state at the time of
entering military service or at the time this bill was presented
in 2000.  Persons receiving this bonus must have served for a
period of 12 consecutive months between December 1941, and
September 1945; have served a lesser period but were discharged
due to injuries received while in active duty; still be in
active service in an honorable status; or have been retired,
furloughed to a reserve, or placed on inactive status.  An
additional $100 bonus must be paid to veterans who received the
purple heart medal and were wounded in combat.  The bonus may
not be paid if the person has been incarcerated for conviction
of a felony or violated the Selective Service Act.  No bonus is
taxable or subject to the claim of any creditor.

The bill creates the Veterans Service Bonus Fund for the payment
of bonuses to veterans.  The fund is administered by the
Division of Veterans Affairs.  The bill outlines a process and
time in which bonuses must be paid.  Persons making false
statements relating to a claim for a bonus are guilty of a class
A misdemeanor.