Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following:
‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, spouses and dependents of veterans are currently receiving educational benefits at state postsecondary institutions; and
Whereas, clarification is required to ensure that those receiving educational benefits will be afforded the time to complete their degree programs; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,’
Amend the bill in section 2 in subsection 1-A in paragraph A in the 3rd line (page 1, line 29 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " for a period of at least one year"
Amend the bill in section 2 in subsection 1-A in paragraph B in the 2nd line (page 1, line 35 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " for a period of at least one year"
Amend the bill in section 3 in paragraph A in subparagraph (3) in the 2nd line (page 2, line 39 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " entered the service from this State or" and inserting the following: 'entered the service from this State or'
Amend the bill in section 4 in paragraph E in the last line (page 3, line 23 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "program." the following: ' This paragraph applies to all spouses enrolled in the educational benefits program as of September 1, 2007.'
Amend the bill by inserting after section 4 the following:
‘Sec. 5. 37-B MRSA §505, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6. Determination of residency. The bureau shall verify that a person seeking benefits as provided by this section is a current resident of the State. The forms of identification sufficient to determine residency in accordance with this section are: A. A valid state driver's license;
B. A valid state-issued identification card;
C. A current state motor vehicle registration form;
D. A current state fishing or hunting license; and
E. Items other than those listed in paragraphs A to D that allow the bureau to reasonably determine residency.
Sec. 6. Retroactivity. That section of this Act that amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 505, subsection 2, paragraph E is retroactive to September 1, 2007.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’
summary
This amendment strikes the one-year residency requirement for eligibility for certain veterans benefits and adds a provision that directs the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services to verify residency. The amendment also makes retroactive to September 1, 2007 the section of the bill that clarifies that education benefits for spouses of veterans are good for 120 credit hours. Finally, this amendment adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)