2019 -- H 5443 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- RECORDATION OF

HONORABLE DISCHARGES

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Millea, Almeida, Williams, and
Shanley

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2019

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 30-18-1 and 30-18-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-18

entitled, "Recordation of Honorable Discharges", are hereby amended to read as follows:

     30-18-1. Recordation without fee -- Sufficiency of certified copy.

     A certificate of the honorable discharge of any soldier, sailor, airperson, or marine from

the military, naval, air, or marine service of the United States, and in case of a sailor to include

notice of separation from the United States naval service, form 553 and revisions thereto, may be

recorded in the office of the town clerk or the city clerk, except in the city of Providence, where

the discharge and separation notice shall be recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds. It shall

be the duty of the town clerk or the city clerk, or the recorder of deeds in the city of Providence,

to record any certificate and separation notice upon presentation thereof without the payment of

any fee. For any purpose for which an original honorable discharge and separation notice may be

required in this state, a certified copy of the record, or a form issued by the office of veterans'

affairs pursuant to § 30-18-4 shall be deemed sufficient and shall be accepted in lieu thereof.

     30-18-2. Sufficiency of reference to recorded discharge.

     Any person who has served in the military, naval, or air service of the United States in

the Spanish-American war, the insurrection in the Philippines, the China relief expedition, World

War I, World War II, or any subsequent war in which the United States may be engaged, who has

once filed evidence in a state, city, or town administrative office in this state that he or she has

been honorably discharged from service or had the characterization of his or her discharge

changed under the provisions of § 30-18-3, either in accordance with the requirements of § 44-3-

4, or in accordance with the requirements of any other general or public law of this state, shall not

be again required to show his or her discharge paper in making an application for tax exemption,

licensing, examination, registration, aid, or relief, or in any other pertinent relationship in

connection with any general or public law of this state, where evidence of honorable discharge

from military, naval, or air service is required to be filed, but may refer any inquirer for

verification of discharge and former filing of evidence to the office of veterans' affairs, or other

office or official where or with whom the discharge has been once recorded, which evidence shall

stand so long as his or her legal residence remains in Rhode Island.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 30-18 of the General Laws entitled "Recordation of Honorable

Discharges", is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     30-18-3. Change in treatment of certain discharges.

     (a) For purposes of this chapter, all former members of the armed forces who were

separated from the service with a general or other than honorable discharge due solely to their

sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, may petition the office of veterans' affairs on

forms and conditions prescribed under § 30-18-4, to have his or her discharge recorded as

honorable.

     (1) Upon a determination by the office of veterans' affairs that the member was separated

from the armed forces with a general or other than honorable discharge due solely to their sexual

orientation, or gender identity or expression, the director of the office of veterans' affairs shall

provide a form to be recorded pursuant to §§ 30-18-1 and 30-18-2 certifying that the member's

discharge is to be treated as honorable.

     (2) Persons who have the characterization of their discharge changed under this section

shall be afforded the same rights, privileges and benefits authorized by general or public law to

service members who were honorably discharged.

     30-18-4. Powers of director.

     (a) The director of the office of veterans' affairs shall promulgate any rules, regulations

and forms as shall be necessary for the full and proper implementation of this chapter, including

but not limited to:

     (1) Informing former members of the armed services that they may be entitled to benefits

and privileges that were previously denied;

     (2) Recording all military discharges;

     (3) Verifying the characterization of the discharge for the purpose of benefits and

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privileges authorized by the general and public laws; and

     (4) Publishing and distributing materials to all state, municipal, and quasi-public entities

highlighting the changes made to this chapter and the effect those changes will have to the

application of the general and public laws.

     (b) The regulations shall be adopted only in accordance with the procedures established

by chapter 35 of title 42.

     (c) The director of the office of veterans' affairs shall also be empowered to enforce and

administer the provisions of this chapter with regard to ensuring that each state or quasi-public

agency and municipality is in compliance with this chapter.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- RECORDATION OF

HONORABLE DISCHARGES

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     This act would provide a petition process to have a discharge from service recorded as

honorable for members of the armed services separated from the service with a general or other

than honorable discharge due solely to their sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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