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2010 SESSION

10104302D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1337
Offered January 22, 2010
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-2001.01, relating to the Department of Veterans Services; duties of the Commissioner; Veterans Bill of Rights.
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Patrons-- Lingamfelter and Hugo
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Referred to Committee on General Laws
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-2001.01 as follows:

§ 2.2-2001.01. Additional duties of the Commissioner; Commonwealth Veterans Bill of Rights.

A. The Commissioner, in conjunction with the Board of Veterans Services, shall develop and implement the Commonwealth Veterans' Bill of Rights, which shall include the following provisions:

1. A Veterans Services Officer Program staffed with officers sufficient to adequately service the local jurisdictions of the Commonwealth, which officers shall possess a minimum of two years of relevant training;

2. Multimedia communications designed to keep veterans aware of their rights and benefits;

3. Mobile service centers designed to reach veterans in remote areas of the Commonwealth;

4. Retail convenience stores in every veterans care center to provide food, nonalcoholic beverages, personal hygiene items, reading materials, and other goods to improve the quality of life for veterans in the care centers;

5. Ambulance services sufficient to ensure the timely transport of veterans in emergency situations;

6. Burial vaults for the estate of a deceased veteran if a vault is requested;

7. Sufficient cemeteries across the Commonwealth to serve the veteran community and adequately staffed to ensure the perpetual maintenance of the cemeteries in a manner befitting deceased veterans;

8. A bugler at all veteran interments or entombments; and

9. Such other provisions as the Commissioner and the Board of Veterans Services deem appropriate.

B. The Commonwealth Veterans' Bill of Rights shall be reviewed annually by the Commissioner and the Board of Veterans Services to ensure that its provisions are reliable and respectfully provided to the veteran community.

C. The Commissioner shall report the state of veterans services covered by the Commonwealth Veterans' Bill of Rights to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before October 1 of each year.