Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §3, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. K, §2, is further amended by adding a new sub-¶(14) to read:

(14) The Adjutant General shall report at the beginning of each biennium to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans' affairs on any recommended changes or modifications to the laws governing veterans' affairs, particularly as those changes or modifications relate to changes in federal veterans laws.

Sec. 2. Veterans' benefits eligibility criteria study. The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management shall study the laws governing eligibility for state veterans' benefits. The study must examine the inconsistencies among eligibility criteria and make recommendations to resolve those inconsistencies. The commissioner shall report findings and recommendations to the First Regular Session of the 120th Legislature by December 31, 2000.

SUMMARY

This bill implements one of the recommendations of the Committee to Study Standardized Periods of Military Service and Other Matters Related to the Award of State of Maine Veterans' Benefits. It requires the Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to report biennially to the Legislature on recommended changes to the laws governing veterans' affairs. The bill also requires the commissioner to study the laws governing eligibility for state veterans' benefits and to report findings and recommendations by December 31, 2000.