2016 -- S 2567

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LC005225

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE - BURIAL OF VETERANS

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Gallo, Lynch Prata, Pichardo, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     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

insure the successful operation thereof. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations, not

inconsistant with the provisions of 38 USCS section 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 internment 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 dog permitted by the cemetery administrator. Any person

who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred

dollars ($500).

     SECTION 2. 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 - BURIAL OF VETERANS

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     This act would prohibit the walking of any domestic animal on the grounds of the

Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Exeter. An exception would be made for service dogs.

Violations would be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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