MAINTENANCE OF STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES.

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View NCGA Bill Details2023-2024 Session
House Bill 178 (Public) Filed Wednesday, February 22, 2023
AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS TO ENHANCE OVERALL MAINTENANCE OF THE STATE'S VETERANS CEMETERIES.
Intro. by Wheatley, Penny.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (May 4 2023)
H 178

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: May 3 2023 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 2nd edition deletes the $100,000 appropriation to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs that was to be used to implement the act.


  • Summary date: May 2 2023 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following change. Adds the House Chairs of the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs to the entities that receive the report on the veterans cemeteries. Adds an appropriation of $100,000 for 2023-24 from the General Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to be used to implement the act.


  • Summary date: Feb 22 2023 - View Summary

    Requires the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs (Department) to ensure that all the State’s four veterans' cemeteries are staffed by those able to properly operate and maintain the cemeteries. Requires the Department to identify and correct the following issues: (1) undue delays in installing headstones; (2) damage to headstones, temporary markers, and graves caused by lawn equipment or vehicles; (3) drainage and flooding problems; (4) scattered debris and other items; and (5) overall grounds appearance, including bare patches due to lack of grass. Authorizes the Department to permit auxiliary and active military groups and other fraternal organizations to volunteer to perform maintenance projects in the State’s veterans' cemeteries.

    Requires the Department to adjust its policies to accommodate family requests relating to funeral services. Requires the Department to review its current policies related to (1) chapel only services, (2) the time allotted for funeral services, (3) the number of attendees allowed to attend funeral services, and (4) barring visitation of grave sites while a funeral is being held.

    Sets reporting requirement on the Department’s findings on both the issues it identified and corrected as well as any policy changes it made pursuant to this act to the specified NCGA committee chairs by October 1, 2023.