2013 -- S 0583

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LC01882

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND ITS

DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO STUDY VARIOUS PROGRAMS AIMED AT

INCREASING VETERANS' ACCESS TO SERVICES

     Introduced By: Senators Bates, Pichardo, Ottiano, Pearson, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

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     WHEREAS, Since 2001, over two million American military personnel have been

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deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island, along with the rest of the country, is witnessing the return of

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our mothers and fathers, husbands and wives and sons and daughters from the field of battle; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island, despite its small size, has borne a significant share of sacrifice

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in these recent conflicts; and

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     WHEREAS, The call back rate of the state's own National Guard to active duty status is

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the second highest in the entire United States, with over 10,000 unit deployments; and

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     WHEREAS, The number of veterans living in Rhode Island who served in the Gulf Wars

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is three times higher than the national per capita average, and is expected to grow as troops begin

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to withdraw from Afghanistan; and

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     WHEREAS, The fundamental freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of our state and these

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United States are insured in no small part through the honorable service of our nation's military

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veterans and,

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     WHEREAS, The people of the state have a deep debt of gratitude for the sacrifices made

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by these men and women who as combat veterans placed their lives in harm's way to protect and

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defend our nation from all foreign enemies and terrorist threats; and

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     WHEREAS, In order to ensure that these men and women upon returning to our state

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may resume their education, personal growth, and career development throughout our state

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without delay, Rhode Island's Division of Veterans' Affairs must deliver services in innovative

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ways that not only meet, but exceed, the expectations of our veterans and their families; now

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therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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respectfully requests that the Department of Human Services and its Division of Veterans' Affairs

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as part of its ongoing Veterans' Services Strategic Plan study implementing the following

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recommendations so as to improve veterans' access to benefits:

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     1. Create a State "Veterans' Transition Team" composed of community and state agencies

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involved in veterans services, to better coordinate, leverage, and ultimately improve services to

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ease both short and long-term transitions for Rhode Island veterans, focusing particularly on

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improving access to employment, healthcare, education, housing, and job training.

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     2. Designate a State Veterans' Ombudsperson within the Division, tasked with the overall

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coordination of statewide services for veterans and authorized to facilitate rapid resolution of

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issues faced by veterans.

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     3. Identify centrally located easily accessible "Veterans Benefits Coordination and

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Outreach Counselors" to provide ongoing outreach to individual veterans to facilitate receipt of

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needed and coordinated services.

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     4. Streamline the State Medicaid process for veterans who have applied for and received

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Medicaid in other states, granting reciprocity, whenever possible.

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     5. Seek additional funding for a "Veteran's Benefits Pocket Guide" as well as a "Veterans'

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Online Resource Application"; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Division of Veterans Affairs.

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LC01882

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