HCS HB 654 & 938 -- VETERAN'S PROGRAMS AND THE STOLEN VALOR ACT

SPONSOR:  Day

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Veterans by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute increases from $750,000 to $1 million the amount
of matching grants to be made annually for veterans' service
officer programs by the Missouri Veterans Commission.

The Stolen Valor Act of 2007 is established which makes it
unlawful for any person to knowingly misrepresent himself or
herself as a veteran or a medal recipient.  Any violation of the
provisions of the substitute will be a class A misdemeanor for
the first offense and a class D felony for any second or
subsequent offense.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Less than
$100,000 in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.  Estimated Cost on
Other State Funds of $250,000 in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters testifying for House Bill 654 say that
with the limited number of veteran service officers it is
difficult for veterans to receive the help they need when
applying for veteran benefits.  The bill will increase the number
of veteran service officers and will help the transportation
problems that exist in getting these veterans to hospitals to
receive the care they need.

Supporters testifying for House Bill 938 say that there is a need
to prevent individuals from misrepresenting themselves as
veterans.  Medals awarded for military service are readily
available and can be easily purchased.  There have been many
documented cases throughout the country where individuals claimed
to be recipients of these medals; but in reality, they were
committing fraud.

Testifying for HB 654 were Representative Stream; Ernie Lee,
Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations; Missouri Veterans
Commission; Hal Dulle, Marine Corp League, Department of
Missouri; Dewey Reihn, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States, Missouri Council; and George Newell, Vietnam Veterans of
American, Missouri State Council.  Testifying for HB 938 were
Representative Dusenberg; Dewey Reihn, Veterans of Foreign Wars
of the United States, Missouri Council and Missouri Association
of Veterans Organizations; Missouri Veterans Commission; and Hal
Dulle, Marine Corp League, Department of Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am