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Recent VA News Releases

To view and download VA news release, please visit the following
Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
Task Force Aims at Improved Services for GWOT Veterans
Nicholson - Vets "Shouldn't Fight For Benefits Earned"
WASHINGTON (April 24, 2007) - Military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan can look forward to more timely receipt of benefits, better information and more streamlined processes, thanks to streamlined federal procedures announced today by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim
Nicholson, who chaired a presidential task force.

"The federal government must be responsive and efficient in delivering our benefits and services to these heroes," Nicholson said during a speech to the National Press Club. "They should not have to fight bureaucratic red tape for benefits earned by their courageous service."
On March 6, President Bush appointed Nicholson to lead the Interagency Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes, which reviewed federal benefits and processes for changes that could quickly improve veterans' access to services and programs.

Nicholson went to the White House April 23 to personally brief President Bush about the task force's recommendations.

The Task Force brought together top officials from the departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education, as well as the Office of Management
and Budget, the Small Business Administration and Office of Personnel Management.

The task force focused on improvements that could be made within the authority of the individual departments or agencies, using existing resources. The panel specifically targeted health care, benefits, employment, education, housing and outreach activities.

The report includes 25 recommendations to improve delivery of federal services to returning military men and women. The government-wide action plan contains steps for individual department and agency activities and incorporates cooperative interaction among those providing complimentary services.

Recommendations focus on increasing awareness of available benefits among service members and their families and improving the process for receiving them. Eighteen recommendations will involve collaborative
efforts among several federal agencies to improve the timeliness, ease of application, and delivery of services and benefits.

The task force report is available on VA's Website at: www.va.gov.

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Subject: US Representative Sam Johnson Speech

 To Our Troops We Must Remain Always Faithful
 
By Rep. Sam Johnson
February 16, 2007
 
(You know, I flew 62 combat missions in the Korean War and 25 missions in the Vietnam War before being shot down.
I had the privilege of serving in the United States Air Force for 29 years, attending the prestigious National War College, and commanding two air bases, among other things.
 
I mention these stories because I view the debate on the floor not just as a U.S. Congressman elected to serve the good people of the Third District in Texas, but also through the lens of a life-long fighter pilot, student of war, a combat warrior, a leader of men, and a Prisoner of War.
 
Ironically, this week marks the anniversary that I started a new life - and my freedom from prison in HanoiI spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam, more than half of that time in solitary confinement.  I flew out of Hanoi on February 12, 1973 with other long-held Prisoners of War - weighing just 140 pounds.  And tomorrow - 34 years ago, I had my homecoming to Texas - a truly unspeakable blessing of freedom.
 
While in solitary confinement, my captors kept me in leg stocks, like the pilgrims... for 72 days....   As you can imagine, they had to carry me out of the stocks because I couldn't walk.  The following day, they put me in leg irons... for 2 years.  That's when you have a tight metal cuff around each ankle - with a foot-long bar connecting the legs.   I still have little feeling in my right arm and my right hand... and my body has never been the same since my nearly 2,500 days of captivity.   But I will never let my physical wounds hold me back.  Instead, I try to see the silver lining. 
 
I say that because in some way ... I'm living a dream...a hope I had for the future.  "From April 16, 1966 to February 12, 1973 - I prayed that I would return home to the loving embrace of my wife, Shirley, and my three kids, Bob, Gini, and Beverly...  And my fellow POWs and I clung to the hope of when - not if - we returned home.   We would spend hours tapping on the adjoining cement walls about what we would do when we got home to America.   We pledged to quit griping about the way the government was running the war in Vietnam and do something about it...   We decided that we would run for office and try to make America a better place for all.
 
So - little did I know back in my rat-infested 3 x 8 dark and filthy cell that 34 years after my departure from Hell on Earth... I would spend the anniversary of my release pleading for a House panel to back my measure to support and fully fund the troops in harm's way....and that just days later I would be on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives surrounded by distinguished veterans urging Congress to support our troops to the hilt.
 
We POWs were still in Vietnam when Washington cut the funding for Vietnam.  I know what it does to morale and mission success.  Words cannot fully describe the horrendous damage of the anti-American efforts against the war back home to the guys on the ground.  Our captors would blare nasty recordings over the loud speaker of Americans protesting back home...tales of Americans spitting on Vietnam veterans when they came home... and worse.  We must never, ever let that happen again.
 
The pain inflicted by your country's indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors.  Our troops - and their families - want, need and deserve the full support of the country - and the Congress.  Moms and dads watching the news need to know that the Congress will not leave their sons and daughters in harm's way without support.
 
Since the President announced his new plan for Iraq last month, there has been steady progress.   He changed the rules of engagement and removed political protections.  There are reports we wounded the number two of Al Qaeda and killed his deputy.  Yes, Al Qaeda operates in Iraq.  It's alleged that top radical jihadist Al-Sadr has fled Iraq - maybe to Iran.  And Iraq's closed its borders with Iran and Syria.  The President changed course and offered a new plan ...we are making progress.  We must seize the opportunity to move forward, not stifle future success.
 
Debating non-binding resolutions aimed at earning political points only destroys morale, stymies success, and emboldens the enemy.
The grim reality is that this House measure is the first step to cutting funding of the troops...  Just ask John Murtha about his 'slow-bleed' plan that hamstrings our troops in harm's way.
 
Now it's time to stand up for my friends who did not make it home - and those who fought and died in Iraq - so I can keep my promise that when we got home we would quit griping about the war and do something positive about it...and we must not allow this Congress to leave these troops like the Congress left us.
 
Today, let my body serve as a brutal reminder that we must not repeat the mistakes of the past... instead learn from them.  We must not cut funding for our troops.  We must stick by them.  We must support them all the way...  To our troops we must remain...always faithful.
God bless you and I salute you all. Thank you.

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Airplane Taking Off
Airplane Flying

CONGRATS TO SMSGT RALPH FEKETE!! - CHECK OUT THE PIC OF HIS SON PERFORMING HIS RETIREMENT CEREMONY!  RALPH'S RETIREMENT FLAG FLEW OVER THE CAPITOL AND THE YOUNGSTOWN OHIO AIRBASE! 

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FROM MILITARY.COM:

THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY our military has provided for the national defense and preserved our way of life. The American military is not a faceless body but a collection of individuals — patriots united by a legacy of selfless service and sacrifice. America's veterans know the cost of freedom and have never looked to others to pay that price.

THAT SPIRIT POWERS this rallying cry to veterans. Now is the time to find your brothers and sisters, those who also once bore the nation's burden. Look not solely to government agencies but to each other, as well. As ten percent of the American population, you have the ability to inform, to employ, to mentor, to heal — to change the lives of other veterans.

Now is the time.

Rights associated with a veteran's standing are manifest in the following articles:


Article I

The Right to Understand Benefits

Veterans have the right to comprehensive and accurate information about pay, benefits, and health care that is easily understood. This right is assured regardless of what organization is providing the benefits — federal, state, or local.


Article II

The Right to Use Benefits

Veterans have the right of ready access to all of the benefits for which they are entitled. Veterans with physical or mental disabilities or those who simply don't understand "the red tape" surrounding benefits must be provided assistance that will allow them ready access.


Article III

The Right to a Good Job

Veterans have the right to jobs commensurate with the skills and experiences gained in the military. Veterans must have access to tools that will allow them to create resumes that properly translate their military skills into civilian skills and language. They also have the right to understand all of their options surrounding federal employment and veteran preference. At the same time, employers, especially veteran employers, have the responsibility of understanding the advantages that veteran employees bring to the marketplace.


Article IV

The Right to Keep That Job

Veterans have the right to serve in the nation's National Guard and Reserve forces with the confidence that if they must leave their civilian jobs for extended periods they will be protected. Both veterans and their employers should understand USERRA and what the law requires in terms of veteran employment and re-employment rights.


Article V

The Right to Treatment For Service-Related Illness

Veterans have the right to health care for any service-related illnesses, be they physical or mental. Further, veterans have the right to the best medical care the government can provide.


Article VI

The Right to Respect and Nondiscrimination

As a result of demonstrated patriotism and the selfless desire to protect our way of life, veterans have the right to respect and nondiscriminatory treatment from all Americans and organizations both public and private.


Article VII

The Right to Identity Protection

Veterans have the right to trust that government organizations that possess personal data will safeguard that data.


Article VIII

The Right to Education

Veterans have earned the right to pursue dreams through education. Organizations charged with facilitating a veteran's use of GI Bill benefits must be responsive. Places of higher education must also give veterans appropriate consideration and treatment.


Article IX

The Right to Community

Veterans have earned their place among veterans and can depend on the veteran community to keep them informed, empowered, and enabled with respect to the issues articulated in Articles I through VIII. For its part, Military.com pledges to continue as the forum for these activities.

Veterans Unite

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  Subject: Michigan Votes Update
  and Comments:
http://www.michiganvotes.com/Legislation.aspx?ID=46755

  House Bill 5887 (Restrict funeral demonstrations ):
  Introduced by Rep. Judy Emmons on March 16, 2006, to prohibit holding a  political demonstration within 500 feet of a funeral or burial service,
  making any statement or gesture intended to intimidate, threaten, or  harass  a person involved in a funeral or burial service; or  engage in any other
  conduct that would disturb, disrupt, or adversely affect a funeral or  burial service.
  Details and Comments:
 
http://www.michiganvotes.com/Legislation.aspx?ID=46759

  House Bill 5888 (Restrict funeral demonstrations ):
  Introduced by Rep. John Gleason on March 16, 2006, to establish  sentencing  guidelines for the crime proposed by House Bill 5887 of disturb or  disrupt a funeral or burial service.
  Details and Comments:
 
http://www.michiganvotes.com/Legislation.aspx?ID=46760

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Your input as always will be greatly appreciated and may be returned to this E-Mail address or sent directly to the GOVA Director Mr. Tim Espich tespich@gov.state.oh.us

 

Joe Jennings

tespich@gov.state.oh.us wrote:

To: songbemet@yahoo.com,
Subject: HB 447
From: tespich@gov.state.oh.us
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2006 10:07:02 -0500


All,


     HB 447 is provided as introduced for your information and review.  HB 447 would create "Support Our Troops" license plates.


     Please let me know if you support or oppose this legislation with remarks as appropriate.


     

Timothy A. Espich
Director, Governor's Office of Veterans' Affairs
77 South High St.
, 30th Floor
Columbus, Ohio
 43215-6117
PH: 614.644.0892
FX:  614.728.9498
EM: tespich@gov.state.oh.us

 

As Introduced



 

126th General Assembly

Regular Session

2005-2006

 

H. B. No. 447



Representatives Bubp, Allen, Blasdel, Boccieri, Brown, Chandler, Combs, Distel, Evans, C., Evans, D., Faber, Fende, Flowers, Latta, Law, Martin, McGregor, J., Peterson, Reidelbach, Schaffer, Taylor, Uecker, Wagner, Wolpert 

 



A BILL


To amend sections 4501.21 and 4501.27 and to enact section 4503.92 of the Revised Code to create "Support Our Troops" license plates.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
OHIO:


Section 1. That sections 4501.21 and 4501.27 be amended and section 4503.92 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 4501.21.  (A) There is hereby created in the state treasury the license plate contribution fund. The fund shall consist of all contributions paid by motor vehicle registrants and collected by the registrar of motor vehicles pursuant to sections 4503.491, 4503.50, 4503.501, 4503.502, 4503.51, 4503.522, 4503.545, 4503.55, 4503.551, 4503.552, 4503.561, 4503.562, 4503.591, 4503.67, 4503.68, 4503.69, 4503.71, 4503.711, 4503.72, 4503.73, 4503.74, 4503.75, and 4503.85, and 4503.92 of the Revised Code.

(B) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar collects in the fund as follows:
(1) The registrar shall pay the contributions received pursuant to section 4503.491 of the Revised Code to the breast cancer fund of Ohio, which shall use that money only to pay for programs that provide assistance and education to Ohio breast cancer patients and that improve access for such patients to quality health care and clinical trials and shall not use any of the money for abortion information, counseling, services, or other abortion-related activities.
(2) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.50 of the Revised Code to the future farmers of America foundation, which shall deposit the contributions into its general account to be used for educational and scholarship purposes of the future farmers of America foundation.
(3) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.501 of the Revised Code to the 4-H youth development program of the Ohio state university extension program, which shall use those contributions to pay the expenses it incurs in conducting its educational activities.
(4) The registrar shall pay the contributions received pursuant to section 4503.502 of the Revised Code to the Ohio cattlemen's foundation, which shall use those contributions for scholarships and other educational activities.
(5) The registrar shall pay each contribution the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.51 of the Revised Code to the university or college whose name or marking or design appears on collegiate license plates that are issued to a person under that section. A university or college that receives contributions from the fund shall deposit the contributions into its general scholarship fund.
(6) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.522 of the Revised Code to the "friends of Perry's victory and international peace memorial, incorporated," a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of this state, to assist that organization in paying the expenses it incurs in sponsoring or holding charitable, educational, and cultural events at the monument.
(7) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.55 of the Revised Code to the pro football hall of fame, which shall deposit the contributions into a special bank account that it establishes and which shall be separate and distinct from any other account the pro football hall of fame maintains, to be used exclusively for the purpose of promoting the pro football hall of fame as a travel destination.
(8) The registrar shall pay the contributions that are paid to the registrar pursuant to section 4503.545 of the Revised Code to the national rifle association foundation, which shall use the money to pay the costs of the educational activities and programs the foundation holds or sponsors in this state.
(9) In accordance with section 955.202 of the Revised Code, the registrar shall pay to the pets program funding board created by that section the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.551 of the Revised Code and any other money from any other source, including donations, gifts, and grants, that is designated by the source to be paid to the pets program funding board. The board shall use the moneys it receives under this section only to support programs for the sterilization of dogs and cats and for educational programs concerning the proper veterinary care of those animals.
(10) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.552 of the Revised Code to the rock and roll hall of fame and museum, incorporated.
(11) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.561 of the Revised Code to the state of Ohio chapter of ducks unlimited, inc., which shall deposit the contributions into a special bank account that it establishes. The special bank account shall be separate and distinct from any other account the state of Ohio chapter of ducks unlimited, inc., maintains and shall be used exclusively for the purpose of protecting, enhancing, restoring, and managing wetlands and conserving wildlife habitat. The state of Ohio chapter of ducks unlimited, inc., annually shall notify the registrar in writing of the name, address, and account to which payments are to be made under division (B)(11) of this section.
(12) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.562 of the Revised Code to the Mahoning river consortium, which shall use the money to pay the expenses it incurs in restoring and maintaining the Mahoning river watershed.
(13)(a) The registrar shall pay to a sports commission created pursuant to section 4503.591 of the Revised Code each contribution the registrar receives under that section that an applicant pays to obtain license plates that bear the logo of a professional sports team located in the county of that sports commission and that is participating in the license plate program pursuant to division (E) of that section, irrespective of the county of residence of an applicant.
(b) The registrar shall pay to a community charity each contribution the registrar receives under section 4503.591 of the Revised Code that an applicant pays to obtain license plates that bear the logo of a professional sports team that is participating in the license plate program pursuant to division (G) of that section.
(14) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.67 of the Revised Code to the Dan Beard council of the boy scouts of America. The council shall distribute all contributions in an equitable manner throughout the state to regional councils of the boy scouts.
(15) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.68 of the Revised Code to the great river council of the girl scouts of the United States of America. The council shall distribute all contributions in an equitable manner throughout the state to regional councils of the girl scouts.
(16) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.69 of the Revised Code to the Dan Beard council of the boy scouts of America. The council shall distribute all contributions in an equitable manner throughout the state to regional councils of the boy scouts.
(17) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.71 of the Revised Code to the fraternal order of police of Ohio, incorporated, which shall deposit the fees into its general account to be used for purposes of the fraternal order of police of Ohio, incorporated.
(18) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.711 of the Revised Code to the fraternal order of police of Ohio, incorporated, which shall deposit the contributions into an account that it creates to be used for the purpose of advancing and protecting the law enforcement profession, promoting improved law enforcement methods, and teaching respect for law and order.
(19) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.72 of the Revised Code to the organization known on March 31, 2003, as the Ohio CASA/GAL association, a private, nonprofit corporation organized under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code. The Ohio CASA/GAL association shall use these contributions to pay the expenses it incurs in administering a program to secure the proper representation in the courts of this state of abused, neglected, and dependent children, and for the training and supervision of persons participating in that program.
(20) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.73 of the Revised Code to Wright B. Flyer, incorporated, which shall deposit the contributions into its general account to be used for purposes of Wright B. Flyer, incorporated.
(21) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.74 of the Revised Code to the Columbus zoological park association, which shall disburse the moneys to Ohio's major metropolitan zoos, as defined in section 4503.74 of the Revised Code, in accordance with a written agreement entered into by the major metropolitan zoos.
(22) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.75 of the Revised Code to the rotary foundation, located on March 31, 2003, in Evanston, Illinois, to be placed in a fund known as the permanent fund and used to endow educational and humanitarian programs of the rotary foundation.
(23) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.85 of the Revised Code to the Ohio sea grant college program to be used for Lake Erie area research projects.
(24) The registrar shall pay the contributions received pursuant to section 4503.92 of the Revised Code to support our troops, incorporated, a national nonprofit corporation, which shall use those contributions in accordance with its articles of incorporation and for the benefit of servicemembers of the armed forces of the United States and their families when they are in financial need.

(C) All investment earnings of the license plate contribution fund shall be credited to the fund. Not later than the first day of May of every year, the registrar shall distribute to each entity described in divisions (B)(1) to (23)(24) of this section the investment income the fund earned the previous calendar year. The amount of such a distribution paid to an entity shall be proportionate to the amount of money the entity received from the fund during the previous calendar year.

Sec. 4501.27.  (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, on and after September 13, 1997, the registrar of motor vehicles, and any employee or contractor of the bureau of motor vehicles, shall not knowingly disclose or otherwise make available to any person or entity any personal information about an individual that the bureau obtained in connection with a motor vehicle record.
(B)(1) On and after September 13, 1997, the registrar, or an employee or contractor of the bureau of motor vehicles, shall disclose personal information, other than sensitive personal information, about an individual that the bureau obtained in connection with a motor vehicle record, for use in connection with any of the following matters to carry out the purposes of any specified federal automobile-related act:
(a) Motor vehicle or driver safety and theft;
(b) Motor vehicle emissions;
(c) Motor vehicle product alterations, recalls, or advisories;
(d) Performance monitoring of motor vehicles and dealers by motor vehicle manufacturers;
(e) Removal of non-owner records from the original owner records of motor vehicle manufacturers.
(2) In addition to the disclosure required under division (B)(1) of this section, on and after September 13, 1997, the registrar, or an employee or contractor of the bureau of motor vehicles, may disclose personal information, other than sensitive personal information, about an individual that the bureau obtained in connection with a motor vehicle record, as follows:
(a) For the use of a government agency, including, but not limited to, a court or law enforcement agency, in carrying out its functions, or for the use of a private person or entity acting on behalf of an agency of this state, another state, the United States, or a political subdivision of this state or another state in carrying out its functions;
(b) For use in connection with matters regarding motor vehicle or driver safety and theft; motor vehicle emissions; motor vehicle product alterations, recalls, or advisories; performance monitoring of motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, and dealers; motor vehicle market research activities, including, but not limited to, survey research; and removal of non-owner records from the original owner records of motor vehicle manufacturers;
(c) For use in the normal course of business by a legitimate business or an agent, employee, or contractor of a legitimate business, but only for one of the following purposes:
(i) To verify the accuracy of personal information submitted to the business, agent, employee, or contractor by an individual;
(ii) If personal information submitted to the business, agent, employee, or contractor by an individual is incorrect or no longer is correct, to obtain the correct information, but only for the purpose of preventing fraud, by pursuing legal remedies against, or recovering on a debt or security interest against, the individual.
(d) For use in connection with a civil, criminal, administrative, or arbitral proceeding in a court or agency of this state, another state, the United States, or a political subdivision of this state or another state or before a self-regulatory body, including, but not limited to, use in connection with the service of process, investigation in anticipation of litigation, or the execution or enforcement of a judgment or order;
(e) Pursuant to an order of a court of this state, another state, the United States, or a political subdivision of this state or another state;
(f) For use in research activities or in producing statistical reports, provided the personal information is not published, redisclosed, or used to contact an individual;
(g) For use by an insurer, insurance support organization, or self-insured entity, or by an agent, employee, or contractor of that type of entity, in connection with any claims investigation activity, anti-fraud activity, rating, or underwriting;
(h) For use in providing notice to the owner of a towed, impounded, immobilized, or forfeited vehicle;
(i) For use by any licensed private investigative agency or licensed security service for any purpose permitted under division (B)(2) of this section;
(j) For use by an employer or by the agent or insurer of an employer to obtain or verify information relating to the holder of a commercial driver's license or permit that is required under the "Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986," 100 Stat. 3207-170, 49 U.S.C. 2701, et seq., as now or hereafter amended;
(k) For use in connection with the operation of a private toll transportation facility;
(l) For any use not otherwise identified in division (B)(2) of this section that is in response to a request for individual motor vehicle records, if the individual whose personal information is requested completes and submits to the registrar or deputy registrar a form prescribed by the registrar by rule giving express consent to such disclosures.
(m) For bulk distribution for surveys, marketing, or solicitations, if the individual whose personal information is requested completes and submits to the registrar or a deputy registrar a form prescribed by the registrar by rule giving express consent to such disclosures.
(n) For use by a person, state, or state agency that requests the information, if the person, state, or state agency demonstrates that it has obtained the written consent of the individual to whom the information pertains;
(o) For use by an organization that receives a contribution specified in the Revised Code that the person paid to the registrar or deputy registrar when the person obtained a special license plate for display on the person's motor vehicle;

(p) For any other use specifically authorized by law that is related to the operation of a motor vehicle or to public safety.
(3)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(3)(b) of this section, the registrar, or an employee or contractor of the bureau of motor vehicles, may disclose sensitive personal information about an individual that the bureau obtained in connection with a motor vehicle record, only if either of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) The individual whose personal information is requested completes and submits to the registrar or deputy registrar a form prescribed by the registrar by rule giving express consent to such disclosure;
(ii) The disclosure is for one or more of the purposes described in division (B)(2)(a), (d), (g), or (j) of this section.
(b) Division (B)(3)(a) of this section does not apply to the disclosure of sensitive personal information that is subject to section 4501.15 or 4507.53 of the Revised Code.
(C) On and after September 13, 1997, an authorized recipient of personal information about an individual that the bureau of motor vehicles obtained in connection with a motor vehicle record, other than a recipient under division (B)(2)(l) or (m) of this section, may resell or redisclose the personal information only for a use permitted under division (B)(1), (B)(2)(a) to (k), (B)(2)(n), or (B)(2)(o)(p) of this section. On and after September 13, 1997, an authorized recipient of personal information about an individual under division (B)(2)(l) of this section may resell or redisclose the information for any purpose. On and after September 13, 1997, an authorized recipient of personal information under division (B)(2)(m) of this section may resell or redisclose the information as specified pursuant to that division. On and after September 13, 1997, an authorized recipient of personal information about an individual under division (B) of this section, other than a recipient under division (B)(2)(l) of this section, that resells or rediscloses any personal information covered by this section must keep for a period of five years a record that identifies each person or entity that receives any of the personal information and the permitted purpose for which the information is to be used, and must make all such records available to the registrar of motor vehicles upon the registrar's request.

(D) The registrar may establish and carry out procedures under which the registrar or the registrar's agents, upon receipt of a request for personal information on or after September 13, 1997, that does not satisfy any of the criteria for disclosure of the information that are set forth in division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, may notify the individual about whom the information was requested, by regular mail, that the request was made. Any procedures so adopted shall provide that, if the registrar or an agent of the registrar mails the notice to the individual, the registrar or agent shall include with the notice a copy of the request and conspicuously shall include in the notice a statement that the information will not be released unless the individual waives the individual's right to privacy regarding the information that is granted under this section.
(E) The registrar of motor vehicles may adopt any forms and rules, consistent with but no more restrictive than the requirements of Public Law No. 130-322, Title XXX, 18 U.S.C. 2721-2725, that are necessary to carry out the registrar's duties under this section on and after September 13, 1997.
(F) As used in this section:
(1) "Motor vehicle record" means a record that pertains to a motor vehicle driver's or commercial driver's license or permit, a motor vehicle certificate of title, a motor vehicle registration or motor vehicle identification license plates, or an identification card issued by the bureau of motor vehicles.
(2) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and does not include this state, another state, or an agency of this state or another state.
(3) "Personal information" means information that identifies an individual, including, but not limited to, an individual's photograph or digital image, social security number, driver or driver's license identification number, name, telephone number, or medical or disability information, or an individual's address other than the five-digit zip code number. "Personal information" does not include information pertaining to a vehicular accident, driving or traffic violation, or driver's status.
(4) "Specified federal automobile-related act" means the "automobile information disclosure act Automobile Information Disclosure Act," 72 Stat. 325, 15 U.S.C. 1231-1233, the "Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Saving Act," 86 Stat. 947, 15 U.S.C. 1901, et seq., the "National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966," 80 Stat. 718, 15 U.S.C. 1381, et seq., the "Anti-car Theft Act of 1992," 106 Stat. 3384, 15 U.S.C. 2021, et seq., and the "Clean Air Act," 69 Stat. 322, 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq., all as now or hereafter amended.

(5) "Sensitive personal information" means an individual's photograph or digital image, social security number, or medical or disability information.
Sec. 4503.92.  (A) The owner or lessee of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor vehicles may apply to the registrar for the registration of the vehicle and issuance of "support our troops" license plates. The application may be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application and compliance by the applicant with divisions (B) and (C) of this section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of "support our troops" license plates and a validation sticker, or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.

In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed on the license plates, "support our troops" license plates shall bear an appropriate logo and the words "support our troops." The bureau of motor vehicles shall design "support our troops" license plates, and they shall display county identification stickers that identify the county of registration by name or number.
(B) "Support our troops" license plates and a validation sticker, or validation sticker alone, shall be issued upon receipt of an application for registration of a motor vehicle under this section; payment of the regular license tax as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, any applicable motor vehicle license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, any applicable additional fee prescribed by section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, an additional fee of ten dollars, and a contribution as provided in division (C) of this section; and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles.
(C) For each application for registration and registration renewal notice the registrar receives under this section, the registrar shall collect a contribution of twenty-five dollars. The registrar shall transmit this contribution to the treasurer of state for deposit in the license plate contribution fund created by section 4501.21 of the Revised Code.
The registrar shall transmit the additional fee of ten dollars, which is to compensate the bureau of motor vehicles for the additional services required in the issuing of "support our troops" license plates, to the treasurer of state for deposit into the state treasury to the credit of the state bureau of motor vehicles fund created by section 4501.25 of the Revised Code.

Section 2. That existing sections 4501.21 and 4501.27 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

 



Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

flashingstarsdivider.gif

To All Ohio VVA Members,

 

I would like your input on the following House Bill or you may send your comment directly to the GOVA Director Mr. Espich at tespich@gov.state.oh.us

Joe Jennings

All,
    HB 70 is provided below as passed by the House for your information and review.  HB 70 would  authorize boards of county commissioners to exempt from taxation the homesteads of qualifying members of the National Guard and reserve components of the Armed Forces who have been deployed outside the state and to exempt estates of members of the United States Armed Services who died while serving in a combat zone from being charged any fees associated with the filing of the decedent's will for probate or the administration of the decedent's estate or any fees for relieving the estate from administration or granting an order for summary release from administration.


    I would sincerely appreciate yours comments regarding this bill.



Timothy A. Espich
Director, Governor's Office of Veterans' Affairs
77 South High St.
, 30th Floor
Columbus, Ohio
 43215-6117
PH: 614.644.0892
FX:  614.728.9498
EM:
tespich@gov.state.oh.us

 

As Passed by the House



 

126th General Assembly

Regular Session

2005-2006

 

Am. Sub. H. B. No. 70



Representatives Evans, C., McGregor, J., Aslanides, Evans, D., Faber, Reidelbach, Patton, T., Ujvagi, Perry, Willamowski, Combs, Carano, Distel, Law, Taylor, Kearns, Widener, Schaffer, Webster, Strahorn, Collier, Patton, S., Harwood, Uecker, Smith, G., DeGeeter, Allen, Hagan, Martin, Kilbane, Gibbs, Driehaus, Gilb, Hartnett, Latta, Seitz, Skindell, Barrett, Beatty, Blessing, Book, Brown, Buehrer, Calvert, Cassell, Chandler, Coley, Core, DeBose, DeWine, Domenick, Fende, Flowers, Healy, Hood, Hughes, Key, McGregor, R., Mitchell, Oelslager, Otterman, Peterson, Raussen, Reinhard, Sayre, Schlichter, Schneider, Setzer, Sykes, Trakas, Wagner, Wagoner, Walcher, Williams, Wolpert, Woodard, Yuko 

 



A BILL


To amend section 2101.16 and to enact sections 305.51 and 2101.164 of the Revised Code to authorize boards of county commissioners to exempt from taxation the homesteads of qualifying members of the National Guard and reserve components of the Armed Forces who have been deployed outside the state and to exempt estates of members of the United States Armed Services who died while serving in a combat zone from being charged any fees associated with the filing of the decedent's will for probate or the administration of the decedent's estate or any fees for relieving the estate from administration or granting an order for summary release from administration.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
OHIO:


Section 1. That section 2101.16 be amended and sections 305.51 and 2101.164 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 305.51.  (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Homestead" means a homestead as defined in section 323.151 of the Revised Code or a manufactured home or mobile home subject to the tax levied under division (C) of section 4503.06 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Qualified homestead" means a homestead owned by an eligible owner at any time during the eligible owner's deployment.
(3) "Eligible owner" means a member of the national guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States who is deployed outside this state pursuant to a congressional declaration of war or executive order of the president of the United States during at least five consecutive months of the tax year, and whose compensation received from the member's nonmilitary employer during such deployment is reduced by more than twenty-five per cent.
(4) "Taxing unit" has the same meaning as in section 5705.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) If a board of county commissioners determines that the economic sacrifices required of eligible owners of qualified homesteads necessitate granting qualified homesteads an exemption from taxation, the board may adopt a resolution exempting qualified homesteads in the county from real property taxes levied by taxing units or the tax levied under section 4503.06 of the Revised Code, as applicable to the homestead. The resolution applies to taxes levied by all taxing units except a city, local, or exempted village school district the board of education of which has adopted a resolution under division (E) of this section.
A board of county commissioners adopting a resolution under this division shall cause a copy of the resolution to be certified within fifteen days after adoption to the board of education of each city, local, and exempted village school district having territory in the county.
(C)(1) To obtain an exemption from taxation under division (B) of this section, an eligible owner of a qualified homestead, the owner's spouse, or the owner's authorized agent shall, for each year for which the owner's homestead qualifies for exemption, file a separate application with the county auditor of the county in which the owner's qualified homestead is located. The application shall be filed in the form and manner prescribed by the county auditor. The application shall be accompanied by documentation, which shall be verified by the county veterans service office of the county in which the owner's homestead is located, of the owner's deployment outside this state pursuant to a congressional declaration of war or executive order of the president of the United States.
(2) An owner of a homestead that is located in a county that has adopted a resolution under division (B) of this section may, regardless of the year in which the county adopted the resolution, submit an application to the county auditor for an exemption for tax year 2004 and any tax year thereafter that precedes the current tax year if the owner was an eligible owner of a qualified homestead for that year. The application shall be accompanied by documentation, which shall be verified by the county veterans service office of the county in which the owner's homestead is located, of the owner's deployment outside this state as described in division (A)(2) of this section during the tax year or tax years for which exemption is sought. If the county auditor determines that the owner is an eligible owner and that the homestead is a qualified homestead for such prior tax years, any taxes that have been paid for such prior years shall be treated by the county auditor as an overpayment of taxes by the owner and shall be refunded to the owner in the manner prescribed in section 5715.22 of the Revised Code.
(D) Application for the exemption constitutes the applicant's consent to permit the county auditor to request and review documentation of the income of the applicant or applicant's compensation for the purposes of determining if the applicant is an eligible owner. If the county auditor requests such documentation and the applicant does not furnish the documentation within sixty days after the request, the county auditor may disapprove the application or terminate the exemption. Documentation furnished to the county auditor under this section shall be used solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for the exemption under this section, shall be returned to the applicant, and is not a public record available for inspection by the public for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.
(E) The board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district may adopt a resolution objecting to the exemption under this section of qualified homesteads from taxes levied by the school district. The board shall cause a copy of the resolution to be certified to the board of county commissioners and to the county auditor within thirty days after receiving a certified copy of the board of county commissioner's resolution certified under division (B) of this section. If a board of education properly and timely adopts and certifies a resolution under this section, qualified homesteads in the school district shall be exempted from taxes levied by all taxing units as otherwise provided in this section except taxes levied by the board of education.
Sec. 2101.16.  (A) The Except as provided in section 2101.164 of the Revised Code, the fees enumerated in this division shall be charged and collected, if possible, by the probate judge and shall be in full for all services rendered in the respective proceedings:

 (1)

 

Account, in addition to advertising charges ..........

$12.00

 

 

Waivers and proof of notice of hearing on account, per

 

 

 

page, minimum one dollar .............................

$ 1.00

 (2)

 

Account of distribution, in addition to

 

 

 

advertising charges ..................................

$ 7.00

 (3)

 

Adoption of child, petition for ......................

$50.00

 (4)

 

Alter or cancel contract for sale or purchase of

 

 

 

real estate, petition to .............................

$20.00

 (5)

 

Application and order not otherwise provided

 

 

 

for in this section or by rule adopted pursuant to

 

 

 

division (E) of this section .........................

$ 5.00

 (6)

 

Appropriation suit, per day, hearing in ..............

$20.00

 (7)

 

Birth, application for registration of ...............

$ 7.00

 (8)

 

Birth record, application to correct .................

$ 5.00

 (9)

 

Bond, application for new or additional ..............

$ 5.00

(10)

 

Bond, application for release of surety or

 

 

 

reduction of .........................................

$ 5.00

(11)

 

Bond, receipt for securities deposited in lieu of ....

$ 5.00

(12)

 

Certified copy of journal entry, record, or proceeding,

 

 

 

per page, minimum fee one dollar .....................

$ 1.00

(13)

 

Citation and issuing citation, application for .......

$ 5.00

(14)

 

Change of name, petition for .........................

$20.00

(15)

 

Claim, application of administrator or executor for

 

 

 

allowance of administrator's or executor's own .......

$10.00

(16)

 

Claim, application to compromise or settle ...........

$10.00

(17)

 

Claim, authority to present ..........................

$10.00

(18)

 

Commissioner, appointment of .........................

$ 5.00

(19)

 

Compensation for extraordinary services and attorney's

 

 

 

fees for fiduciary, application for ..................

$ 5.00

(20)

 

Competency, application to procure adjudication of ...

$20.00

(21)

 

Complete contract, application to ....................

$10.00

(22)

 

Concealment of assets, citation for ..................

$10.00

(23)

 

Construction of will, petition for ...................

$20.00

(24)

 

Continue decedent's business, application to .........

$10.00

 

 

Monthly reports of operation .........................

$ 5.00

(25)

 

Declaratory judgment, petition for ...................

$20.00

(26)

 

Deposit of will ......................................

$ 5.00

(27)

 

Designation of heir ..................................

$20.00

(28)

 

Distribution in kind, application, assent, and

 

 

 

order for ............................................

$ 5.00

(29)

 

Distribution under section 2109.36 of the Revised

 

 

 

Code, application for an order of ....................

$ 7.00

(30)

 

Docketing and indexing proceedings, including the

 

 

 

filing and noting of all necessary documents, maximum

 

 

 

fee, fifteen dollars .................................

$15.00

(31)

 

Exceptions to any proceeding named in this section,

 

 

 

contest of appointment or ............................

$10.00

(32)

 

Election of surviving partner to purchase assets of

 

 

 

partnership, proceedings relating to .................

$10.00

(33)

 

Election of surviving spouse under will ..............

$ 5.00

(34)

 

Fiduciary, including an assignee or trustee of an

 

 

 

insolvent debtor or any guardian or conservator

 

 

 

accountable to the probate court, appointment of .....

$35.00

(35)

 

Foreign will, application to record ..................

$10.00

 

 

Record of foreign will, additional, per page .........

$ 1.00

(36)

 

Forms when supplied by the probate court, not to

 

 

 

exceed ...............................................

$10.00

(37)

 

Heirship, petition to determine ......................

$20.00

(38)

 

Injunction proceedings ...............................

$20.00

(39)

 

Improve real estate, petition to .....................

$20.00

(40)

 

Inventory with appraisement ..........................

$10.00

(41)

 

Inventory without appraisement .......................

$ 7.00

(42)

 

Investment or expenditure of funds, application for ..

$10.00

(43)

 

Invest in real estate, application to ................

$10.00

(44)

 

Lease for oil, gas, coal, or other mineral, petition

 

 

 

to ...................................................

$20.00

(45)

 

Lease or lease and improve real estate, petition to ..

$20.00

(46)

 

Marriage license .....................................

$10.00

 

 

Certified abstract of each marriage ..................

$ 2.00

(47)

 

Minor or mentally ill person, etc., disposal of estate

 

 

 

under ten thousand dollars of ........................

$10.00

(48)

 

Mortgage or mortgage and repair or improve real

 

 

 

estate, petition to ..................................

$20.00

(49)

 

Newly discovered assets, report of ...................

$ 7.00

(50)

 

Nonresident executor or administrator to bar

 

 

 

creditors' claims, proceedings by ....................

$20.00

(51)

 

Power of attorney or revocation of power,

 

 

 

bonding company ......................................

$10.00

(52)

 

Presumption of death, petition to establish ..........

$20.00

(53)

 

Probating will .......................................

$15.00

 

 

Proof of notice to beneficiaries .....................

$ 5.00

(54)

 

Purchase personal property, application of surviving

 

 

 

spouse to ............................................

$10.00

(55)

 

Purchase real estate at appraised value, petition of

 

 

 

surviving spouse to ..................................

$20.00

(56)

 

Receipts in addition to advertising charges,

 

 

 

application and order to record ......................

$ 5.00

 

 

Record of those receipts, additional, per page .......

$ 1.00

(57)

 

Record in excess of fifteen hundred words in any

 

 

 

proceeding in the probate court, per page ............

$ 1.00

(58)

 

Release of estate by mortgagee or other lienholder ...

$ 5.00

(59)

 

Relieving an estate from administration under section

 

 

 

2113.03 of the Revised Code or granting an order for a

 

 

 

summary release from administration under section

 

 

 

2113.031 of the Revised Code .........................

$60.00

(60)

 

Removal of fiduciary, application for ................

$10.00

(61)

 

Requalification of executor or administrator .........

$10.00

(62)

 

Resignation of fiduciary .............................

$ 5.00

(63)

 

Sale bill, public sale of personal property ..........

$10.00

(64)

 

Sale of personal property and report, application

 

 

 

for ..................................................

$10.00

(65)

 

Sale of real estate, petition for ....................

$25.00

(66)

 

Terminate guardianship, petition to ..................

$10.00

(67)

 

Transfer of real estate, application, entry, and

 

 

 

certificate for ......................................

$ 7.00

(68)

 

Unclaimed money, application to invest ...............

$ 7.00

(69)

 

Vacate approval of account or order of distribution,

 

 

 

motion to ............................................

$10.00

(70)

 

Writ of execution ....................................

$ 5.00

(71)

 

Writ of possession ...................................

$ 5.00

(72)

 

Wrongful death, application and settlement of claim

 

 

 

for ..................................................

$20.00

(73)

 

Year's allowance, petition to review .................

$ 7.00

(74)

 

Guardian's report, filing and review of ..............

$ 5.00

 

 


(B)(1) In relation to an application for the appointment of a guardian or the review of a report of a guardian under section 2111.49 of the Revised Code, the probate court, pursuant to court order or in accordance with a court rule, may direct that the applicant or the estate pay any or all of the expenses of an investigation conducted pursuant to section 2111.041 or division (A)(2) of section 2111.49 of the Revised Code. If the investigation is conducted by a public employee or investigator who is paid by the county, the fees for the investigation shall be paid into the county treasury. If the court finds that an alleged incompetent or a ward is indigent, the court may waive the costs, fees, and expenses of an investigation.
(2) In relation to the appointment or functioning of a guardian for a minor or the guardianship of a minor, the probate court may direct that the applicant or the estate pay any or all of the expenses of an investigation conducted pursuant to section 2111.042 of the Revised Code. If the investigation is conducted by a public employee or investigator who is paid by the county, the fees for the investigation shall be paid into the county treasury. If the court finds that the guardian or applicant is indigent, the court may waive the costs, fees, and expenses of an investigation.
(C) Thirty dollars of the thirty-five-dollar fee collected pursuant to division (A)(34) of this section and twenty dollars of the sixty-dollar fee collected pursuant to division (A)(59) of this section shall be deposited by the county treasurer in the indigent guardianship fund created pursuant to section 2111.51 of the Revised Code.
(D) The fees of witnesses, jurors, sheriffs, coroners, and constables for services rendered in the probate court or by order of the probate judge shall be the same as provided for like services in the court of common pleas.
(E) The probate court, by rule, may require an advance deposit for costs, not to exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars, at the time application is made for an appointment as executor or administrator or at the time a will is presented for probate.
(F) The probate court, by rule, shall establish a reasonable fee, not to exceed fifty dollars, for the filing of a petition for the release of information regarding an adopted person's name by birth and the identity of the adopted person's biological parents and biological siblings pursuant to section 3107.41 of the Revised Code, all proceedings relative to the petition, the entry of an order relative to the petition, and all services required to be performed in connection with the petition. The probate court may use a reasonable portion of a fee charged under authority of this division to reimburse any agency, as defined in section 3107.39 of the Revised Code, for any services it renders in performing a task described in section 3107.41 of the Revised Code relative to or in connection with the petition for which the fee was charged.
(G)(1) Thirty dollars of the fifty-dollar fee collected pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section shall be deposited into the "putative father registry fund," which is hereby created in the state treasury. The department of job and family services shall use the money in the fund to fund the department's costs of performing its duties related to the putative father registry established under section 3107.062 of the Revised Code.
(2) If the department determines that money in the putative father registry fund is more than is needed for its duties related to the putative father registry, the department may use the surplus moneys in the fund as permitted in division (C) of section 2151.3529, division (B) of section 2151.3530, or section 5103.155 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 2101.164.  (A) As used in this section, "combat zone" means an area that the president of the United States by executive order designates for purposes of 26 U.S.C. 112 as an area in which armed forces of the United States are or have engaged in combat.
(B) A probate judge shall not charge, or collect from, the estate of a decedent who died while in active service as a member of the armed forces of the United States any of the following fees if the death occurred while the decedent was serving in a combat zone or as a result of wounds, disease, or injury incurred while serving in a combat zone:
(1) Any fee for or associated with the filing of the decedent's will for probate;
(2) Any fee for any service rendered by the probate court that is associated with the administration of the decedent's estate;
(3) Any fee for relieving the decedent's estate from administration under section 2113.03 of the Revised Code or granting an order for a summary release from administration under section 2113.031 of the Revised Code.
Section 2. That existing section 2101.16 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.
Section 3. Section 2101.16 of the Revised Code, as amended by this act, and section 2101.164 of the Revised Code, as enacted by this act, apply to the estates of decedents who die on or after the effective date of this act.

 

 

 

Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

flashingstarsdivider.gif

All,

     HB 484 is provided below as introduced for your information and review.  HB 484 would revise the ORC to prohibit protest activities within 300 feet of the site of a funeral service.   Also for your information I have provided is a copy of news release which discusses the reasoning for the bill.


    I would sincerely appreciate your comments on this bill.



Timothy A. Espich
Director, Governor's Office of Veterans' Affairs
77 South High St.
, 30th Floor
Columbus, Ohio
 43215-6117
PH: 614.644.0892
FX:  614.728.9498
EM:
tespich@gov.state.oh.us

 

As Introduced



 

126th General Assembly

Regular Session

2005-2006

 

H. B. No. 484



Representatives Boccieri, McGregor, J., Raussen, Hood, Healy, Wagoner, Seitz, Hughes, Widener, Chandler, Stewart, D., Carano, Harwood 

 



A BILL


To amend section 3767.30 of the Revised Code to prohibit protest activities within 300 feet of the site of a funeral service during and within one hour before and after the service and to prohibit protest activities within 300 feet of a funeral procession.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
OHIO:


Section 1. That section 3767.30 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3767.30.  Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his the person's sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of the right, but no person shall picket or engage in other protest activities, nor shall any association or corporation cause to be picketed picketing or other protest activities to occur, within three hundred feet of any residence, cemetery, funeral home, church, synagogue, or other establishment during or within one hour before and during or one hour after the conducting of an actual funeral or burial service at such that place. No person shall picket or engage in other protest activities, nor shall any association or corporation cause to be picketed picketing or other protest activities to occur, within three hundred feet of any funeral procession.
Section 2. That existing section 3767.30 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.




For immediate release:                                                                            
 

January 23, 2006

Contact: Rep Boccieri 330-518-5366
                     Katie Jones 614-466-1464  

Rep Boccieri Introduces “Let Them Rest in Peace Actâ€

( COLUMBUS)– State Representative John Boccieri (D-New Middletown) introduced legislation today aimed at inhibiting protests at funerals for Iraqi War Veterans. Members of a Kansas-based group are demonstrating at veterans funerals saying the military deaths in Iraq are punishment from God, and they’re organizing to come to Ohio

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas started protesting at military funerals last summer and have demonstrated at 80 funerals thus far believing America is doomed and God is killing soldiers while allowing such tragedies as Hurricane Katrina and 9/11.  The organized group believes America is being punished for its worship of dead soldiers and homosexuality.

“As a former Honor Guard Commander over-seeing military funerals and having flown fallen soldiers out of Iraq, I just cannot imagine that such a group would disrespect the families in this way,†Rep Boccieri said.

According to the official website of the Westboro Baptist Church (www.godhatesfags.com), a message details their agenda to lawmakers on Legislation regarding counter-demonstrations at funerals of dead soldiers.    

The group says, “When the death of a soldier is turned into a public platform to lionize America, worship the dead and defy God, we will be there…hold up signs…America is Doomed, God Blew Up the Soldier, Thank God for Dead Soldiers, Thank God for IED’s.† 

The group identifies soldiers and details the location of upcoming funerals and to date has participated in demonstrations in Florida, Illinois, and Michigan and is organizing to come to Ohio, according to their website.  Illinois Lt Governor Pat Quinn introduced legislation requiring demonstrations to set-back up to 300ft from all funeral services.

“I looked at the Illinois legislation and decided to introduce it in Ohio as a preemptive move,†Rep Boccieri said.  â€œMy fear is that this hate-group may team-up with other fringe groups organizing in Ohio and begin protesting at military funerals. These demonstrations are disruptive, inappropriate and appalling,†he added

The House Bill requires a 300ft buffer for demonstrators around all funerals which is enforceable by local law enforcement and carries penalties for non-compliance.  The buffer would start 30 minutes before the funeral and 30 minutes afterward.  

“I respect the free-speech of citizens of this country.  However, this is inappropriate behavior at a private ceremony where citizens wish to morn the passing of their loved one,†Rep Boccieri said.  â€œThey can practice their free-speech, but I feel they need to be at a respectful distance because their free speech rights end where the family’s right to privacy begins.

State Representative Boccieri is a C-130 Pilot in the Air Force Reserves and completed his fourth rotation in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom last September.  

#######

 

 

 

Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

flashingstarsdivider.gif

All,

      HB 479 is provided below as introduced for your information and review.  HB 479 would allow a parent who is called to active military duty to file a motion with the court to temporarily modify a prior decree allocating parental rights and responsibilities.


     Your comments of this legislation will be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks    

Timothy A. Espich
Director, Governor's Office of Veterans' Affairs
77 South High St.
, 30th Floor
Columbus, Ohio
 43215-6117
PH: 614.644.0892
FX:  614.728.9498
EM:
tespich@gov.state.oh.us

 

As Introduced



 

126th General Assembly

Regular Session

2005-2006

 

H. B. No. 479



Representatives Calvert, Evans, C., Martin, Peterson, Gibbs, Healy, McGregor, J., Evans, D., Latta, Setzer, Flowers, Hartnett, Buehrer, Brown, Faber 

 



A BILL


To enact section 3109.111 of the Revised Code to allow a parent who is called to active military duty to file a motion with the court to temporarily modify a prior decree allocating parental rights and responsibilities.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
OHIO:


Section 1. That section 3109.111 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 3109.111. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Active military service" means the performance of military duty by a member of the Ohio or United States uniformed services for a period of more than thirty days.
(2) "Designated relative" means a person related by consanguinity or affinity to both the child and the parent filing a motion under division (B) of this section for whom companionship or visitation rights are sought.
(B)(1) A parent of an unmarried minor child may file in the court of common pleas of the county in which the minor child resides a motion for temporary modification of a prior decree allocating parental rights and responsibilities to grant reasonable companionship or visitation rights to a designated relative, if that parent is called to active military service. On the filing of such a motion, the court shall conduct a hearing, giving the case calendar priority, and handle the case expeditiously.
(2) A parent who files a motion under division (B)(1) of this section shall also file with the court a plan for reasonable companionship or visitation that covers all factors that are relevant to the care of the child, including, but not limited to, physical living arrangements, child support obligations, and medical and dental care.
(C) In determining whether to grant temporary modification of a prior decree allocating parental rights and responsibilities under division (B) of this section, the court shall consider all of the following factors:
(1) The wishes of the child's parents regarding the child's care;
(2) The best interest of the child;
(3) If the child has sufficient reasoning ability, the wishes of the child;
(4) The prior interaction and interrelationships of the child with the designated relative;
(5) Whether the parents are subject to a sole parenting or shared parenting order and whether they have honored and facilitated the order;
(6) The ability of the parents to cooperate and make joint decisions regarding the child;
(7) The details of the plan filed under division (B)(2) of this section;
(8) The geographic proximity of the parent not called to active military duty with the designated relative;
(9) Any other relevant factor.
(D)(1) If the court interviews any child pursuant to division (C) of this section, the court shall conduct the interview in chambers, and no person other than the child, the child's attorney, the judge, any necessary court personnel, and, in the judge's discretion, the attorney of each parent, shall be permitted to be present in the chambers during the interview. No person shall obtain or attempt to obtain from a child a written or recorded statement or affidavit setting forth the child's wishes and concerns regarding the temporary modification of parental rights and responsibilities. A court, in determining whether to grant a temporary modification pursuant to this section, shall not accept or consider a written or recorded statement or affidavit that purports to set forth the child's wishes and concerns regarding this matter.
(2) After reviewing the details of the plan pursuant to division (C)(7) of this section, the court shall determine if the plan is in the best interest of the child. If the plan is in the best interest of the child, the court shall approve it. If the plan is not in the best interest of the child, the court may reject part of the, or the entire, plan and require the parent filing the motion to make appropriate changes to the plan. If the parent makes changes to the plan and if the changes are in the best interest of the child, the court shall approve the plan. If the parent makes changes to the plan and the changes are not in the best interest of the child, the court may reject the portion of the plan and require the parent to make appropriate changes to the plan or may deny the motion for temporary modification of parental rights and responsibilities filed under division (B) of this section.
(E) The court may grant the motion for temporary modification of parental rights and responsibilities for reasonable companionship or visitation rights with any designated relative filed under this section if the court approves the plan required under division (B)(2) of this section and, after consideration of the factors in division (C) of this section, determines that temporary modification is in the best interest of the child.
(F) Temporary modification of a prior decree allocating parental rights and responsibilities granted pursuant to this section shall be in effect only during the tenure of the parent's active military duty, and the temporary modification decree shall terminate on the thirty-first day after the parent's release from active military duty. The prior decree allocating parental rights and responsibilities shall not be otherwise modified for any purpose under this section and, subject to this section, all applicable provisions of the prior decree shall remain in effect during the tenure of the parent's active military duty.

 

 

 

Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

 

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Below is VVA’s "official” rebuttal to the Washington Post article that was put together on December 28th... Happy New Year to you and your family!!

December 28, 2005

To the Editor:

Yesterday’s front-page piece by Shankar Vedantam, “A Political Debate on Stress Disorder”, does an injustice to veterans whose lives have come undone by what they have experienced during war.

Contrary to several allegations by so-called experts, who view post-traumatic stress disorder as a made-up diagnosis used by veterans to enrich themselves, PTSD is a very real disease. It is marked by physiological manifestations, secondary diseases, and chemical changes in and to the brain. It is associated with a variety of disorders that often are just as debilitating as many of the physical injuries incurred in combat.

War brutalizes those who are intimate with combat. If our government sees fit to send young men and women ­ and some not-so-young men and women ­ off to war, it must be prepared to help them deal with and, ideally, overcome the effects of what they have experienced.

The Department of Veterans Affairs must devote specific and enhanced resources to treat those who are diagnosed with war-related PTSD. This is part of America’s obligation, and debt, to those it has placed in harm’s way. It is a cost of war, and defending a free society.

[signed]
John Rowan
National President
Vietnam Veterans of America



Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

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VA Adds Nearly 2 Million Records to Online Gravesite Locator

WASHINGTON (December 22, 2005) - The burial locations of more than 5
million veterans for whom the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
provided grave markers are now available on the Internet, as well as the
information inscribed on the markers.

Online since April 2004, the nationwide gravesite locator
http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov
helps veterans' families, former comrades-in-arms and others find the
graves of veterans.

VA recently added 1.9 million records for veterans buried primarily in
private cemeteries to its database. The gravesite locator previously
carried records on 3 million veterans buried in VA national cemeteries
since the Civil War, and in state veterans cemeteries and Arlington
National Cemetery since 1999.

"The expansion of this innovative program continues VA's commitment to
using Internet technology to fulfill the important mission of
memorializing our nation's veterans," said the Honorable R. James
Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "By adding records to our
online database, VA also helps families research their genealogy and
ensures that future generations of Americans will be able to honor these
veterans for their service."

The new records date from January 1997, the earliest time for which
electronic records exist. The information comes from applications made
for these veterans' headstones or markers. Beyond the 5 million records
now available, VA continues to add approximately 1,000 new records to
the database each day.

Last year, VA furnished nearly 369,000 inscribed headstones and markers
for veterans' graves worldwide.

Internet users only need to provide the last name of the deceased
veteran or dependent. Typically, the information available includes
name, birth and death dates, rank, branch of service and the address and
phone number of the cemetery.

Veterans whose discharges are other than dishonorable, their spouses and
dependent children may be buried in a national cemetery, regardless of
where they live. No advance reservations are made. VA provides
perpetual care, as well as a headstone or marker, a burial flag and a
memorial certificate to survivors.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery
offices, from a VA Web site at
www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.

Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

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A Political Debate On Stress Disorder
As Claims Rise, VA Takes Stock
By Shankar Vedantam
Washington
Post Staff Writer
Tuesday,
December 27, 2005
; A01

The spiraling cost of post-traumatic stress disorder among war veterans has triggered a politically charged debate and ignited fears that the government is trying to limit expensive benefits for emotionally scarred troops returning from
Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the past five years, the number of veterans receiving compensation for the disorder commonly called PTSD has grown nearly seven times as fast as the number receiving benefits for disabilities in general, according to a report this year by the inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs. A total of 215,871 veterans received PTSD benefit payments last year at a cost of $4.3 billion, up from $1.7 billion in 1999 -- a jump of more than 150 percent.

Experts say the sharp increase does not begin to factor in the potential impact of the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan, because the increase is largely the result of Vietnam War vets seeking treatment decades after their combat experiences. Facing a budget crunch, experts within and outside the Veterans Affairs Department are raising concerns about fraudulent claims, wondering whether the structure of government benefits discourages healing, and even questioning the utility and objectivity of the diagnosis itself.

"On the one hand, it is good that people are reaching out for help," said Jeff Schrade, communications director for the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "At the same time, as more people reach out for help, it squeezes the budget further."

Among the issues being discussed, he said, was whether veterans who show signs of recovery should continue to receive disability compensation: "Whether anyone has the political courage to cut them off -- I don't know that Congress has that will, but we'll see."

Much of the debate is taking place out of public sight, including an internal VA meeting in
Philadelphia this month. The department has also been in negotiations with the Institute of Medicine over a review of the "utility and objectiveness" of PTSD diagnostic criteria and the validity of screening techniques, a process that could have profound implications for returning soldiers.

The growing national debate over the
Iraq war has changed the nature of the discussion over PTSD, some participants said. "It has become a pro-war-versus-antiwar issue," said one VA official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because politics is not supposed to enter the debate. "If we show that PTSD is prevalent and severe, that becomes one more little reason we should stop waging war. If, on the other hand, PTSD rates are low . . . that is convenient for the Bush administration."

As to whether budget issues and politics are playing a role in the agency's review of PTSD diagnosis and treatment, VA spokesman Scott Hogenson said: "The debate is over how to provide the best medical services possible for veterans."

People with PTSD have paralyzing memories of traumatic episodes they experienced or witnessed, a range of emotional problems, and significant impairments in day-to-day functioning. Underlying the political and budget issues, many experts acknowledged, is a broader scientific debate over how best to diagnose trauma-related pathology, what the goal of treatment should be -- even what constitutes trauma.

Harvard psychologist Richard J. McNally argues that the diagnosis equates sexual abuse, car accidents and concentration camps, when they are entirely different experiences: A PTSD diagnosis has become "a way of moral claims-making," he said. "To underscore the reprehensibility of the perpetrator, we say someone has been through a traumatic event."

Chris Frueh, director of the VA clinic in
Charleston, S.C., said the department's disability system encourages some veterans to exaggerate symptoms and prolong problems in order to maintain eligibility for benefits.

"We have young men and women coming back from
Iraq who are having PTSD and getting the message that this is a disorder they can't be treated for, and they will have to be on disability for the rest of their lives," said Frueh, a professor of public psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina. "My concern about the policies is that they create perverse incentives to stay ill. It is very tough to get better when you are trying to demonstrate how ill you are."

Most veterans whom Frueh treats for PTSD are seeking disability compensation, he said. Veterans Affairs uses a sliding scale; veterans who are granted 100 percent disability status receive payments starting at around $2,300 a month. The VA inspector general's report found that benefit payments varied widely in states and said that was because VA centers in some states are more likely to grant veterans 100 percent disability.

Psychiatrist Sally Satel, who is affiliated with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said an underground network advises veterans where to go for the best chance of being declared disabled. The institute organized a recent meeting to discuss PTSD among veterans.

Once veterans are declared disabled, they retain that status indefinitely, Frueh and Satel said. The system creates an adversarial relationship between doctors and patients, in which veterans sometimes take legal action if doctors decline to diagnose PTSD, Frueh said. The clinician added that some patients who really need help never get it because they are unwilling to undergo the lengthy process of qualifying for disability benefits, which often requires them to repeatedly revisit the painful episodes they experienced.

The concern by Frueh and Satel about overdiagnosis and fraud -- what researchers call "false positives" -- has drawn the ire of veterans groups and many other mental health experts.

A far bigger problem is the many veterans who seek help but do not get it or who never seek help, a number of experts said. Studies have shown that large numbers of veterans with PTSD never seek treatment, possibly because of the stigma surrounding mental illness.

"There are periodic false positives, but there are also a lot of false negatives out there," said Terence M. Keane, one of the nation's best-known PTSD researchers, who cited a 1988 study on the numbers of veterans who do not get treatment. "Less than one-fourth of people with combat-related PTSD have used VA-related services."

Larry Scott, who runs the clearinghouse http://www.vawatchdog.org/ , said conservative groups are trying to cut VA disability programs by unfairly comparing them to welfare.

Compensating people for disabilities is a cost of war, he said: "Veterans benefits are like workmen's comp. You went to war. You were injured. Either your body or your mind was injured, and that prevents you from doing certain duties and you are compensated for that."

Scott said Veterans Affairs' objectives were made clear in the department's request to the
Institute of Medicine for a $1.3 million study to review how PTSD is diagnosed and treated. Among other things, the department asked the institute -- a branch of the National Academies chartered by Congress to advise the government on science policy -- to review the American Psychiatric Association's criteria for diagnosing PTSD. Effectively, Scott said, Veterans Affairs was trying to get one scientific organization to second-guess another.

PTSD experts summoned to Philadelphia for the two-day internal "expert panel" meeting were asked to discuss "evidence regarding validity, reliability, and feasibility" of the department's PTSD assessment and treatment practices, according to an e-mail invitation obtained by The Washington Post. The goal, the e-mail added, is "to improve clinical exams used to help determine benefit payments for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."

"What they are trying to do is figure out a way not to diagnose vets with PTSD," said Steve Robinson, executive director of the
National Gulf War Resource Center, a veterans advocacy group. "It's like telling a patient with cancer, 'if we tell you, you don't have cancer, then you won't suffer from cancer.' "

Hogenson, the VA spokesman, said the department is not seeking to overturn the established psychiatric criteria for diagnosing PTSD.

"We are reviewing the utility and the objectivity of the criteria . . . and are commenting on the screening instruments used by VA," he said. "We want to make sure what we do for screening comports with the latest information out there."

© 2005 The Washington Post Company




Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

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VERY IMPORTANT - Latest on WWI Memorials, Rockefeller Park, Cultural Gardens, Doan Brook Restoration, and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation


If new to this effort, for more details on the project please visit
http://www.citizensvision.org/friends-rp/index.htm

Please find attached the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation response
to Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 15 regarding Doan Brook Restoration
project and section 106. Also the petition is attached, please print both
pages back to back and distribute. All interested parties can sign this
petition, no matter where they reside.

Distribute this to as many people as possible and let them know that
donations are being accepted to help with a fight in court. The donation
check should be made out to "The Friends of Rockefeller Park and Cleveland
Cultural Gardens" and marked legal fund in the memo area unless the donation
is unspecified.

Please have the donation sent to:
Friends of Rockefeller Park
and Cleveland Cultural Gardens
A Committee of Citizens' Vision
P.O. Box 32700
Cleveland, Ohio 44132-0700

Respectfully,

Ray Saikus
Vietnam 1968-69
173rd Airborne Brigade

Tel. (216) 378-0535
rrs@citizensvision.org
www.citizensvision.org
Friends of Rockefeller Park
and Cleveland Cultural Gardens
A Committee of Citizens' Vision
P.O. Box 32700
Cleveland, Ohio 44132-0700



Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

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November 27, 2005
SECRETIVE VA LAUNCHES NEW PTSD REVIEW
By Larry Scott


Just six days after canceling one PTSD review, the VA "sneaks in" another - Culture of secrecy makes agency designed to help veterans their biggest foe

Over the past year, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA), led by
Secretary Jim Nicholson, has turned a deaf ear to veterans and quietly made numerous decisions designed to strip veterans of benefits and compensation.

Secretary Nicholson came to the VA with no understanding of veterans' advocacy and no experience in the healthcare sector. He had been Chairman of the Republican National Committee and Ambassador to the Vatican. As one pundit put it, "Jim Nicholson can write a good political bumper sticker and knows how to kiss the Pope's ring. That's about it."

But, with Secretary Nicholson at the VA helm, veterans have come to feel isolated from the agency's decision-making processes. And, recent developments have done nothing quell that uneasy feeling.

Earlier this year, veterans were surprised by the VA's "second signature required" (SSR) policy. SSR applied to approved claims for many "high-dollar" disabilities and stipulated that the claim be re-approved by another VA staffer. However, if the claim was denied by the first staffer, there was no second review.

Veterans' groups claimed that a SSR policy should apply to all claims for any condition whether they were approved or denied. The fact that the VA chose to apply SSR to disabilities with "high-dollar" compensation was proof to many veterans that the agency was just trying to save money by denying benefits.

The SSR policy was NOT announced by the VA. Only some very good
investigative work by Cheryl Reed of the Chicago Sun-Times brought the story to light. This is just one of many instances where the VA has instituted policies detrimental to veterans without making the actions public.

The latest "unannounced" move by the VA is a new review of PTSD diagnosis, treatment and compensation. The VA's plans came to light on November 16, just six days after they had canceled a review of 72,000 PTSD claims awarded at 100 percent disability. Pressure from veterans' groups and Democrat members of Congress forced the cancellation.

The VA's new PTSD review was not announced by the VA. There was no VA press release. There was no VA press conference. The information was not posted on the VA web site.

Information about the new PTSD review was made public in a press release by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The release, in part, said, "The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that it has contracted with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on a two-pronged approach to the examination of PTSD."

Except, the VA hadn't announced anything. They were using Senator Craig as their conduit to hand out the bad news. Since Craig's press releases don't have a high readership, this information has gone virtually unnoticed.

Upon reading Senator Craig's press release I! called the Public Affairs Office at the VA. They had no knowledge of the review. I then called the Institute of Medicine. They had no knowledge of the review.

Senator Craig's office was more helpful. They forwarded the two documents the VA had sent to them. One document is a Fact Sheet detailing the contract between the VA and the IOM. The other is a Question and Answer sheet. (NOTE: The VA documents are available at the following URL -
http://www.vawatchdog.org/newsflash/newsflash11-23-2005-3.htm )

I encourage all veterans to read the VA documents. They detail a plan to redefine PTSD by altering diagnostic and treatment techniques that will then lead to a complete restructuring of VA compensation. Following are a few excerpts from the VA Fact Sheet.

The IOM "...will review the utility and objectiveness of the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- IV), and will comment on the validity of current screening instruments and their predictive capacity for accurate diagnoses."

This will allow the VA to write an alternate definition of PTSD exclusive of the DSM-IV and institute new methods of treatment outside of normally accepted guidelines. I wonder what the American Psychiatric Association will say about this?

Also, the IOM "...will review the literature on compensation practices for PTSD...and how changes in the frequency and intensity of symptoms affect compensation practices for PTSD; assessing how compensation practices and reevaluation requirements for PTSD compare with other chronic conditions which have periods of remission and return of symptoms; and reviewing strategies used to support recovery and return to function in patients with PTSD."

And, this will allow the VA to lower PTSD compensation based on "frequency and intensity of symptoms" and "remission and return of symptoms." The VA will also be look! ing to d eny PTSD benefits based on the concept of "recovery and return to function." VA Secretary Nicholson has often used the word "recover" (terribly close to the word "cure") when speaking of veterans with PTSD. The IOM reviews will be completed in a year.

Also, there were two big surprises found in the Question and Answer
document.

"QUESTION: Why is this study being conducted now?

ANSWER: Over the next two years, the [VA] Secretary and the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) is (sic) closely examining compensation for all health conditions, including PTSD."

Surprise number one is that the VA has not announced that Secretary Nicholson is examining compensation "for ALL health conditions." Veterans can only look forward to fewer benefits and lower compensation with Nicholson directing this endeavor.

The second surprise is Secretary Nicholson's mention of the VDBC. The VDBC, by law, is "independent of the Department of Veterans' Affairs." However, to discover that they are coordinating their efforts should not be a surprise. The VDBC is made up of 13 members who are currently studying all areas of VA compensation. Nine VDBC members were appointed by Republicans. Secretary Nicholson was appointed by President Bush.

Then there is the matter of timing. The VDBC's charter stipulates that their reports must be done by October of 2006. But, the VDBC has also contracted with the IOM for studies that will not be complete for at least a year. They will be asking for an extension. This means that the VDBC reports from IOM and the VA reports from IOM will be released at the same time, well AFTER the 2006 elections. I don't believe in coincidence.

Sometime in early 2007, after the elections, VA Secretary Jim Nicholson will be armed with reports from the VDBC and the VA's IOM studies. Expect a two-fisted attack on veterans' benefits and compensation from an administration that is the first to shout
"Support Our Troops"...until they become veterans.

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From: "Paul Sutton" <ssgtusmc6169@hotmail.com>
To:
ssgtusmc6169@hotmail.com
Subject: PTSD Case Review Hit By Tom Philpott @ Military.com
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 15:50:21 -0400

Senator Obama sounds like a "compassionate legislator" to me....
Paul Sutton
"Dominus Fortissima Turris"

PTSD Case Review Hit
By Tom Philpott
Military.com
September 29, 2005

Both his grandfather and great uncle served in World War II, said Sen.
Barack Obama (D-Ill.), but only his great uncle entered a Nazi death camp as
the war came to a close. "According to the story my grandmother told," said
the senator in a phone interview, "when he got home he went up to his
parents' house, into the attic, and didn't talk for about six months."

It was an era, said Obama, in which many veterans struggled through the
trauma of war, without counseling or disability pay. Obama had several
generations of veterans in mind, he suggested, when he joined with fellow
Democrats Richard Durbin ( Ill. ), Patty Murray ( Wash. ) and Daniel K.
Akaka ( Hawaii ) Sept. 22 on an amendment to block the Department of
Veterans Affairs from reviewing case files of 72,000 veterans rated
100-percent disabled by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Senate,
on a voice vote, adopted the amendment to the Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs Appropriation Act (HR 2528).

The House version of the bill has no such language, so a House-Senate
conference committee will decide its fate during final negotiations on the
bill.

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee,
declined an interview but in a written statement said, "If a veteran's claim
is unfairly denied, that is a problem. If a claim is granted in error, that
is money taken from another veteran."

VA officials believe some PTSD claims have been decided for veterans without
proper documentation. They announced their massive review only after the VA
inspector general studied 2,100 randomly-selected cases of PTSD disability
awards and found 25 percent lacked documents to verify that a traumatic,
service-connected incident occurred.

Given the poor staff work, VA said that in January it would begin to review
paperwork for all 100-percent disabled PTSD cases decided over five years,
from October 1999 through September 2004. In that period, the IG said, the
number of veterans receiving compensation for PTSD rose by 80 percent and
annual PTSD payments rose from $1.7 billion to $4.3 billion.

But the Senate's amendment would bar the VA from conducting its case review
until it justifies the program to Congress. It also would prohibit the VA
from lowering PTSD awards except in cases of fraud. "None of us wants to see
any fraud or waste in government spending," said Obama, who serves on the
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "But nowhere should we be more willing to
give people the benefit of the doubt than with the brave men and women who
served our country." VA, he said, "is presuming significant fraud for people
who have received 100-percent disability payments on PTSD claims. They are
not conducting a comparable survey of people whose claims were denied. What
that indicates, to me at least, is there is some bias against those who have
received payments."

He noted that the original IG investigation was launched because of
veterans' complaints of wide disparities in claim award between VA regions.
"There were a couple of ways the VA could have handled it. They could have
said, 'You know, this is troubling. It seems that some veterans are being
shortchanged. Let's make sure all veterans are being treated fairly and
generously.' "

Instead, the VA decided to "level down rather than up" on benefits. He
predicted House conferees will concede to the Senate on this issue. "If you
just think about the nature of PTSD, imagine the number of servicemen who
come back and never even bother about making a PTSD claim, despite the fact
that they've having significant trauma," Obama said. "Think about those who
maybe put in a claim but weren't organized enough to have the paperwork, and
now, potentially, are going to see benefits reduced."

Obama said the rise in PTSD payments likely reflects greater knowledge today
of the disorder rather than sloppy staff work or fraud.




Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

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Office of Senator Kimberly Zurz

Memo

To:        Tim Espich

From:    Grant Christensen

CC:  

Date:     11/02/05

Re:        Veteran Identification on State drivers licenses IDs

 

Hello Mr. Espich,

 

          Per our earlier conversation regarding veteran status and branch of service designation on state drivers licenses, we are seeking your council’s recommendation on these eligibility requirements.  

 

          In late September our office received a letter from a constituent regarding the possibility of honoring our veterans by placing a veteran designation on state drivers’ licenses. Senator Zurz believes that such a designation is not only a fitting and appropriate way of honoring our Veterans, but encourages retailers to continue to offer discounts to veterans by providing a simple means of identification.

 

          The standard form issued to discharged or retired military personnel has been in operation since January 1, 1950 (DD-214) and lists only six options on line 13 for character of service: honorable, under honorable conditions, under other than honorable conditions, bad conduct, dishonorable, and uncharacterized. A designation of “under honorable conditions” is given when the negative part of the records outweighs the positive part. A designation of “under other than honorable conditions” is given when the discharge resulted because of behavior. A designation of “bad conduct” is given when a special court martial resulted in the discharge. A designation of “dishonorable” is given when a general court martial, or other legal action results in the discharge and for other reasons warranting the designation. A designation of “uncharacterized” is given if the person served fewer than 180 days.

 

          For purposes of FAFSA aid in education, any status but that of “dishonorable” is used. For purposes of the G.I. Bill, only “honorable” and “under honorable conditions” is used. For purposes of securing a certificate of Veteran Status for use in HUD home loans, persons serving less than 90 days are excluded (some of the “uncharacterized”) as are those discharged with “dishonorable.”

 

          In addition to the multiple ways to define veteran eligibility, there are also multiple forms that contain the relevant information that could be presented to a Bureau of Motor Vehicles staff member to demonstrate that an individual veteran qualifies. The DD 214 (described above) is the most common, but we want to ensure that all veterans have the opportunity to easily demonstrate their status. The

DD 256 is an honorable discharge certificate, the DD 13 is a statement of service and typically includes the character of service using the same six categories as the DD 214, the certificate of veterans status is provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is based off the DD 214 for purposes of securing home loans. Finally, the DD 214 was not issued to veterans prior to January 1, 1950. In exchange a series of at least six forms was issued based on branch and service. The WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD, and the NAVCG 553. Some of these forms do not specifically list the nature of the discharge, but are perhaps the most readily at hand forms for veterans of World War I and World War II. Does the council feel that any/all of these forms are also acceptable ways to demonstrate veteran status. Does the council have any additional ideas about documents most veterans would have on hand to show a representative from the BMV to qualify for the veteran designation?

 

          Given there are a limitless number of combinations to decide who should qualify for the veteran designation, any recommendation your council can provide would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, we are working under time constraints to get the legislation drafted and to committee. Accordingly, it would be greatly appreciated if the issue could be added to the next (November 17th) meeting, with a prompt reply regarding the recommendations. If it is both permissible and convenient a staff member from our office can be present to help frame the issue.

 

Thank you much for your willingness to assist us,

Grant Christensen

Vets copayment set to increase by $1 beginning January 2006
 
Department of Veterans Affairs
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2005
Office of Public Affairs - Media Relations
Washington, DC    20420
(202) 273-6000
www.va.gov
VA Prescription Co-Pays to Increase by $1
WASHINGTON – Co-payments for outpatient medicines prescribed through Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities will rise by $1, according to an announcement today by VA.  The $1 increase for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs will take effect on January 1, 2006, the first change in VA prescription drug co-payments in four years.
"Through sound management practices, efficient pharmacy operations and price negotiations that put veterans first, VA has been able to contain prescription drug costs,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, noting that co-payments paid by veterans will still be lower than similar expenses in the private sector.
The increase to $8 from $7 for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs is required by federal law, which bases VA's co-payments for outpatient prescriptions on increases in the Medical Consumer Price Index.
The $1 increase will not affect veterans who have an injury or illness connected with their military service resulting in a 50 percent or greater disability.  Also known as “Priority Group 1” veterans, these patients will see no change in their current prescription drug benefit, Nicholson said.
Other veterans with less pronounced service-connected ailments – those classified as Priority Groups 2 through 6 – will see their prescription drug co-pays rise by $1, but their annual out-of-pocket expenses for VA medicine will remain capped.  The new cap will rise to $960 per year, up $120 from the previous level.  This means veterans in Priority Groups 2 through 6 will pay no more than $960 annually for VA outpatient medicine.
Veterans who have no injury or illness related in any way to their prior military service – referred to as Priority Groups 7 and 8 – will also see their co-payments increase, but there is no cap on annual payments for outpatient medicine.
Not all prescription drugs will be subject to the $1 increase.  Outpatient medications not subject to co-payments include:
· Medication for treatment of a service-connected disability;
· Medication for a veteran who has a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more;
· Medication for a veteran disabled by 50 percent or more for unemployability;
· Medication for a veteran whose annual income does not exceed the amount of VA pensions;
· Medications for health problems that may be linked to Agent Orange for Vietnam veterans, to radiation exposure, to undiagnosed illnesses of Persian War veterans, or for new veterans within two years of discharge after serving in a combat theater.

Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

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VA's Online RX Refill Service the Right Prescription for Vets
November 23, 2005

Secretary Nicholson: Service is "Fast, Easy and Secure"
WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of veterans are now receiving their prescription drug refills from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with greater convenience, speed and security, thanks to a new service available to veterans over the Internet.

More than 70,000 prescriptions have been refilled using the latest service added to VA's "MyHealtheVet," the personal online health record system designed for veterans in the VA health care system.  The prescription refill service began on Aug. 31.

"VA's MyHealtheVet prescription refill service is proving to be extremely successful in providing America's veterans with fast, easy and secure access to their important medications," said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "Given the overwhelmingly positive response VA has received to this initiative from our veterans, we anticipate that thousands more veterans will choose to take advantage of this convenient service."

The secure online prescription refill service has quickly emerged as one of the more popular features in the MyHealtheVet system, which connects with VA's widely respected electronic records system.

When a veteran orders a prescription refill, the request is routed to VA's computer system to be filled by one of the department's outpatient mail pharmacies.  The refill is then sent directly to the veteran, eliminating the need for a trip to the pharmacy and a wait in line.

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2005, MyHealtheVet marked its second anniversary by adding three new health records that veterans can keep in a secure electronic environment and make available to VA health professionals nationwide – blood oxygen levels taken from a pulse oximeter, daily food intake in the Food Journal, and physical activity and exercise in the Activity Journal.

By last month, more than 100,000 veterans had signed up to use MyHealtheVet, which is located on VA's Web site at www.myhealth.va.gov.

Among the services available to veterans, their families and VA care providers through the online personal record are the ability to track health conditions – entering readings such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels – and to record medications, allergies, military health history, medical events and tests.

Veterans can also include personal information, such as emergency contacts, names of medical providers and health insurance information.  They can access health information on the Internet from VA, MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine, and Healthwise, a commercial health education library.

Future expansion of MyHealtheVet will allow VA patients to view appointments and co-payment balances, access portions of their medical records, and give access to their records to doctors, family members and others.

#   #   #

People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and
updated fact sheets can subscribe at the following Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm

Secretary Nicholson: Service is "Fast, Easy and Secure"

WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of veterans are now receiving their prescription drug refills from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with greater convenience, speed and security, thanks to a new service available to veterans over the Internet.

More than 70,000 prescriptions have been refilled using the latest service added to VA's "MyHealtheVet," the personal online health record system designed for veterans in the VA health care system.  The prescription refill service began on Aug. 31.

"VA's MyHealtheVet prescription refill service is proving to be extremely successful in providing America's veterans with fast, easy and secure access to their important medications," said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "Given the overwhelmingly positive response VA has received to this initiative from our veterans, we anticipate that thousands more veterans will choose to take advantage of this convenient service."

The secure online prescription refill service has quickly emerged as one of the more popular features in the MyHealtheVet system, which connects with VA's widely respected electronic records system.

When a veteran orders a prescription refill, the request is routed to VA's computer system to be filled by one of the department's outpatient mail pharmacies.  The refill is then sent directly to the veteran, eliminating the need for a trip to the pharmacy and a wait in line.

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2005, MyHealtheVet marked its second anniversary by adding three new health records that veterans can keep in a secure electronic environment and make available to VA health professionals nationwide – blood oxygen levels taken from a pulse oximeter, daily food intake in the Food Journal, and physical activity and exercise in the Activity Journal.

By last month, more than 100,000 veterans had signed up to use MyHealtheVet, which is located on VA's Web site at www.myhealth.va.gov.

Among the services available to veterans, their families and VA care providers through the online personal record are the ability to track health conditions – entering readings such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels – and to record medications, allergies, military health history, medical events and tests.

Veterans can also include personal information, such as emergency contacts, names of medical providers and health insurance information.  They can access health information on the Internet from VA, MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine, and Healthwise, a commercial health education library.

Future expansion of MyHealtheVet will allow VA patients to view appointments and co-payment balances, access portions of their medical records, and give access to their records to doctors, family members and others.

#   #   #

People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and
updated fact sheets can subscribe at the following Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm

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No Across-the-Board Review of PTSD Cases – Secretary Nicholson
November 10, 2005

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not review the files of 72,000 veterans currently receiving disability compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, the Department's secretary announced today.

On May 19, 2005, VA's Inspector General reported on an examination of the files of a sample of 2,100 randomly selected veterans with disability ratings for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  The IG cited insufficient documentation in the files and a dramatic increase in veterans filing for disability compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder since 1999.

"We have now just completed our own careful review of those 2,100 files cited in the IG's report,' said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.  "The problems with these files appear to be administrative in nature, such as missing documents, and not fraud."

"In the absence of evidence of fraud, we're not going to put our veterans through the anxiety of a widespread review of their disability claims,' Nicholson said."Instead, we're going to improve our training for VA personnel who handle disability claims and toughen administrative oversight."

"Not all combat wounds are caused by bullets and shrapnel," Nicholson added. "We have a commitment to ensure veterans with PTSD receive compassionate, world-class health care and appropriate disability compensation determinations."

#   #   #

People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and
updated fact sheets can subscribe at the following Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm

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Run Date: 08/03/2005
THE SANDUSKY REGISTER

Perkins football players honor OVH vets

By TOM JACKSON
tomjackson@sanduskyregister.com

PERKINS TWP.

During the football season, Ohio Veterans Home considers Perkins High the OVH's home team, transporting residents to watch the Pirates during home games.

On Saturday, football players from Perkins will show their support for the home, pitching in to help the Paladin Knights' annual summer picnic.

Gary Wilder, president of the local chapter of Paladin Knights, said his veterans support organization plans to feed all 700 residents at the OVH. Residents who can't attend the picnic in the OVH pavillion will have trays of food brought to them.

"Those guys fought for our freedom. This is a way for us to say thank you," said Wilder, a Vietnam veteran.

He said the veterans will be brought to the pavillion for lunch and offered hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, desserts and juice.

The Irish Heritage Pipe Band, a bagpipers group, will perform, and a member of the Paladin Knights will serve as a DJ. AMVETS Post 32 of Elyria will provide a 21-gun salute, and the Navy ROTC squad from Admiral King High School in Lorain will perform a drill.

"We try to do different things every year for them," said Wilder.

The football players will help residents in wheelchairs get to the pavillion, said Vicki Bird, a representative from the Perkins High School Football Parent Committee.

"There are a lot of big strong boys to get the residents down," Bird said.

The players also will help the residents get their food, carrying trays for people who't carry their own Wilder said.

"This will be the third year they've helped us," Wilder said.

Bird said that 42 players showed up last year, and she expects that everyone who can make it will show up Saturday. The new football coach at Perkins High, David Brausch, has been very supportive, Bird said.

This fall, the football team also will do a food and clothing drive for Care and Share to help provide a Thanksgiving Day meal, Bird said.

During football season, the OVH staff transports residents to watch the Perkins Pirates play, said Gary Chetwood, director of public affairs for the OVH.

"The guys get a kick out of it," Chetwood said. "A lot of people forget that we're part of this community, and these guys like football."

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Reid -- Veterans Benefits


For Immediate Release                                                                                                      Friday, April 15, 2005

Contact: Tessa Hafen  202-224-9521


SENATE ACCEPTS REID AMENDMENT TO GIVE FAIR BENEFITS TO SEVERLY DISABLED VETERANS

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate has accepted an amendment by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), the Democratic Leader, to provide fair benefits for a group of severely disabled military veterans.

The measure would allow veterans classified as "unemployable" by the Veterans Administration to get both their disability and retirement pay immediately. Under current Administration policy, those veterans now must forfeit part of their retirement pay if they get disability benefits - a policy known in military circles as the ban on concurrent receipt.

"I have worked for many years to end the ban on concurrent receipt," said Reid. "It's an unfair and outdated policy that keeps our veterans from getting the full pay they deserve. It's especially upsetting that the Administration insists on applying this policy to unemployable veterans, when Congress intended to exempt them last year."

In 2003, Congress passed Reid's legislation to allow disabled retired veterans with at least a 50% disability rating to become eligible for full concurrent receipt benefits over a ten year period. Last year, Congress passed legislation by Reid, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), and Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) to eliminate the 10-year phase-in period for veterans who are 100% disabled.

However, the Administration did not implement the legislation for all of America's most severely disabled veterans. They removed the 10-year waiting period for those veterans who were classified by the VA as 100% disabled, but not for those who were classified at a lower disability percentage but were still declared "unemployable."

Reid introduced an amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill directing the Pentagon to eliminate the 10-year waiting period for veterans designated as "unemployable." The Senate has now accepted the amendment.

"I am happy to say the Senate has agreed to my amendment," said Reid. "It was approved by a bipartisan group of Senators, and we have support in the House as well.  I hope now the Administration will do the right thing, and give fair compensation to our "unemployable" disabled veterans. And I hope soon Congress will end the ban on concurrent receipt entirely, for all veterans."

Reid has reintroduced legislation to eliminate the ban on concurrent receipt altogether. That measure is pending in the Senate.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


"Keep on, Keepin' on"
Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan"
See my web site at:
https://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/

Change your email address when needed by signing in at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VeteranIssues/

Forward to other veterans, tell them to Sign up at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VeteranIssues/join
  

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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

 

VOINOVICH ATTENDS PYRAMID OF REMEMBRANCE DEDICATION AT

ARLINGTON CEMETERY

 

 

WASHINGTON U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) joined Congressman Steve LaTourette and other military and regional representatives for the official dedication of the Pyramid of Remembrance memorial at Arlington Cemetery in Washington. Last year, Voinovich introduced legislation to establish the Pyramid of Remembrance memorial to honor members of the armed forces who have lost their lives during peacekeeping operations, humanitarian efforts, training or covert operations. The memorial was spearheaded by students at Riverside High School in Painesville.

 

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From: tespich@gov.state.oh.us
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:29:00 -0500
All,

    SB 250 is provided below as introduced for your information and review.  SB 250 would eliminate the provision in the law which allows certain boards of county commissioners' power to appoint additional members to the veterans service commission in their county.    

   I would sincerely would appreciate your comments on this bill.  
   

Timothy A. Espich
Director, Governor's Office of Veterans' Affairs
As Introduced




126th General Assembly
Regular Session
2005-2006


S. B. No. 250




Senator Cates 



A BILL

To amend sections 5901.02 and 5901.03 and to repeal section 5901.021 of the Revised Code and to repeal Section 35 of Am. Sub. S.B. 261 of the 124th General Assembly to terminate certain boards of county commissioners' power to appoint additional members to the veterans service commission in their county.


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 5901.02 and 5901.03 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 5901.02. (A)(1) In each county, there shall be a commission known as "the veterans service commission." Except as otherwise provided in this section 5901.021 of the Revised Code, the commission shall be composed of five residents of the county appointed to five-year terms by a judge of the court of common pleas. At the time of appointment or reappointment to the commission, no commission member appointed under this section shall be an employee of the commission or hold an elective or other appointive office of the county served by the commission.
(2) Each member of the commission appointed under this section shall be an honorably discharged or honorably separated veteran. Within sixty days after the date of appointment, each such member shall file the member's form DD214 with the governor's office of veterans affairs in accordance with guidelines established by the director of that office. Such appointments Appointments shall be made from lists of recommended persons, in the manner specified in the following paragraph division (A)(3) of this section. One person shall be a representative recommended by the American Legion; one person shall be a representative recommended by the Veterans of Foreign Wars; one person shall be a representative recommended by the Disabled American Veterans; one person shall be a representative recommended by the AMVETS; and one person shall be a representative recommended by the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A., the Vietnam Veterans of America, or the Korean War Veterans Association. If any such organization has no post or chapter located in the county, the appointment shall be made from lists of recommended persons submitted by posts or chapters of any other congressionally chartered veterans organizations located in the county. If no such other organizations have posts or chapters located in the county, the judge responsible for making appointments under this section may appoint any qualified veteran to represent the veteran community.
(3) On or before the fifteenth day of October of each year, the appointing judge shall notify each post or chapter of each organization within the county from which the member may or must be appointed that it may submit a list containing three recommendations of persons who are eligible for appointment. If the judge does not receive any recommendations within sixty days after providing the required notification, the judge may appoint any qualified veteran to represent the veteran community. The judge shall make the appointment on or before the fifteenth day of January of each year. Any vacancy in a membership appointed under this section occurring on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments appointment.
Beginning in the year 2000, appointment (4) On or after the effective date of this amendment, notwithstanding any contrary provision of divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section, any commission to which additional members were appointed pursuant to former section 5901.021 of the Revised Code that has any of those additional members on the day preceding the effective date of this amendment shall continue to include those additional members until the expiration of their term of office, or until a vacancy occurs in their office before the expiration of their term, at which time the vacancy shall not be filled.
(B)(1) Appointment of members to the a veterans service commission under this section shall be made as follows:
(A)(a) Appointments for members to represent the American Legion shall be made for terms to commence in years ending in zero and five.
(B)(b) Appointments for members to represent the Veterans of Foreign Wars shall be made for terms to commence in years ending in one and six.
(C)(c) Appointments for members to represent the Disabled American Veterans shall be made for terms to commence in years ending in two and seven.
(D)(d) Appointments for members to represent the AMVETS shall be made for terms to commence in years ending in three and eight.
(E)(e) Appointments for members to represent the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A., the Vietnam Veterans of America, or the Korean War Veterans Association shall be made for terms to commence in years ending in four and nine.
(2) The terms immediately preceding the initial appointments made under divisions (A)(B)(1)(a) to (E)(e) of this section may be for periods of less than five years.
Sec. 5901.03.  The veterans service commission shall select one of its members as president, one of its members as vice-president, and one of its members as secretary. The commission shall meet at least once each month. A judge of the court of common pleas may remove, for cause, any member of the commission appointed under section 5901.02 of the Revised Code, and, except as provided in division (A)(4) of section 5901.02 of the Revised Code, shall fill vacancies so occurring among memberships appointed under that section for the unexpired terms in the manner provided for the original appointments.
The commission's duties shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(A) Employing such staff as are necessary to carry out the commission's duties, and fixing their compensation;
(B) Establishing policies and procedures for the administration of the commission and the veterans service office;
(C) Establishing policies and procedures for the administration of assistance as provided under this chapter;
(D) Causing the budgets of the veterans service commission and veterans service office to be presented to the board of county commissioners for approval;
(E) Establishing programs of outreach and coordination with other agencies to enhance available services to veterans within the county;
(F) Promoting, monitoring, and providing funding for ongoing education and training for veterans service commissioners and staff;
(G) Making reports to the organizations represented on the commission, as provided in section 5901.02 of the Revised Code, and to others, upon request;
(H) Establishing regularly scheduled transportation for veterans to and from veterans administration medical centers whose districts the county is within, through contractual agreements or through other arrangements determined by the commission to be most cost-effective;
(I) Participating in appropriate memorial and commemorative activities to help promote patriotism and veterans services;
(J) Taking any other actions required by this chapter.
Section 2. That existing sections 5901.02 and 5901.03 and section 5901.021 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
Section 3. That Section 35 of Am. Sub. S.B. 261 of the 124th General Assembly is hereby repealed.

Respectfully,

Joseph A. Jennings III
Exec. Dir.
VVA "BUCKEYE" State Council

"For those that have fought for it, ' FREEDOM ' has a flavor the protected will never know"

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