| Chapter 075 |
| 2018 -- S 2105 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/28/2018 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE |
| Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Seveney, Felag, and Euer |
| Date Introduced: January 18, 2018 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 30-25-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-25 entitled "Burial of |
| Veterans" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 30-25-14. Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery. |
| (a) The Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery, located on the grounds of the Joseph |
| H. Ladd school in the town of Exeter, shall be under the management and control of the director |
| of the department of human services. The director of the department of human services shall |
| appoint an administrator for the Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery who shall be an |
| honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces and shall have the general |
| supervision over, and shall prescribe rules for, the government and management of the cemetery. |
| He or she shall make all needful rules and regulations governing the operation of the cemetery |
| and generally may do all things necessary to ensure the successful operation thereof. The director |
| shall promulgate rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 2402, |
| to govern the eligibility for burial in the Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery. In addition to |
| all persons eligible for burial pursuant to rules and regulations established by the director, any |
| person who served in the army, navy, air force, or marine corps of the United States for a period |
| of not less than two (2) years and whose service was terminated honorably, shall be eligible for |
| burial in the Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery. The director shall appoint and employ all |
| subordinate officials and persons needed for the proper management of the cemetery. National |
| guard members who are killed in the line of duty or who are honorably discharged after |
| completion of at least twenty (20) years' of service in the Rhode Island national guard and their |
| spouse shall be eligible for interment in the Rhode Island veterans' memorial cemetery. For the |
| purpose of computing service under this section, honorable service in the active forces or reserves |
| shall be considered toward the twenty (20) years of national guard service. The general assembly |
| shall make an annual appropriation to the department of human services to provide for the |
| operation and maintenance for the cemetery. The director shall charge and collect a grave liner |
| fee per interment of the eligible spouse and/or eligible dependents of the qualified veteran equal |
| to the department's cost for the grave liner. |
| (b) No domestic animal shall be allowed on the grounds of the Rhode Island veterans' |
| memorial cemetery, whether at large or under restraint, except for seeing eye guide dogs, hearing |
| ear signal dogs or any other service animal, as required by federal law or any personal assistance |
| animal, as required by chapter 9.1 of title 40. Any person who violates the provisions of this |
| section shall be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500). |
| (c) The state of Rhode Island office of veteran veterans’ affairs shall bear the cost of all |
| tolls incurred by any motor vehicles that are part of a veteran's funeral procession, originating |
| from Aquidneck Island ending at the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery veterans’ memorial |
| cemetery, for burial or internment. The executive director of the Turnpike turnpike and Bridge |
| Authority bridge authority shall assist in the administration and coordination of this toll |
| reimbursement program. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC003211/SUB A |
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