Sec. 27-103. Definitions. (a) As used in the general statutes, except chapter 504, and except as otherwise provided: (1) "Armed forces" means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force; (2) "veteran" means any person honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed forces; (3) "service in time of war" means service of ninety or more days except, if the war, campaign or other operation lasted less than ninety days, "service in time of war" means service for the entire duration of the war, campaign or other operation, unless separated from service earlier because of a service-connected disability rated by the Veterans' Administration, during the Spanish-American War, April 21, 1898, to August 13, 1898; the Philippine insurrection, August 13, 1898, to July 4, 1902, but as to engagements in the Moro Province, to July 15, 1903; the Boxer Rebellion, June 20, 1900, to May 12, 1901; the Cuban pacification, September 12, 1906, to April 1, 1909; the Nicaraguan campaign, August 28, 1912, to November 2, 1913; the Haitian campaign, July 9, 1915, to December 6, 1915; the punitive expedition into Mexico, March 10, 1916, to April 6, 1917; World War I, April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, but as to service in Russia, to April 1, 1920; World War II, December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946; and the Korean hostilities, June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955; and shall include service during the Lebanon conflict, July 1, 1958, to November 1, 1958; the Berlin Airlift, August 14, 1961, to June 1, 1962; and the Vietnam era, February 28, 1961, to July 1, 1975; and shall include service while engaged in combat or a combat support role during the peace-keeping mission in Lebanon, September 29, 1982, to March 30, 1984; the invasion of Grenada, October 25, 1983, to December 15, 1983; Operation Earnest Will, involving the escort of Kuwaiti oil tankers flying the United States flag in the Persian Gulf, February 1, 1987, to July 23, 1987; and the invasion of Panama, December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990; and shall include service during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, August 2, 1990, to June 30, 1994; and shall include active duty for service in the demilitarized zone in South Korea after February 1, 1955, in Somalia after December 2, 1992, and in Bosnia after December 20, 1995, and shall include service during such periods with the armed forces of any government associated with the United States.
(b) As used in this part, "home" means the Veterans' Home and Hospital maintained by the state; "hospital" means any incorporated hospital or tuberculosis sanatorium in the state and any state chronic disease hospital, mental hospital or training school for the mentally retarded, "veteran" means any veteran who served in time of war, as defined by subsection (a), and who is a resident of this state, provided, if he was not a resident or resident alien of this state at the time of enlistment or induction into the armed forces, he shall have resided continuously in this state for at least two years; "eligible dependent" means any parent, wife or husband, or child of a veteran who has no adequate means of support; and "eligible family member" means any parent, brother or sister, wife or husband, or child or children under eighteen years of age, of any veteran whose cooperation in the program is integral to the treatment of the veteran.
(1949 Rev., S. 2925; September, 1950, 1953, S. 1635d; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 29; February, 1965, P.A. 157, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 163, S. 1; P.A. 75-483, S. 2, 10; P.A. 77-424, S. 2; P.A. 88-285, S. 2, 35; P.A. 91-2, S. 6, 8; 91-213, S. 6, 8; 91-407, S. 19, 42; P.A. 94-245, S. 13, 46; P.A. 95-300; P.A. 99-272, S. 2; P.A. 00-131, S. 2.)
History: 1965 act provided for service in defined Vietnam territory and actions and the Dominican Republic after April 27, 1965; 1969 act deleted foregoing amendment and substituted in essence during the period between January 1, 1964, and such date to be determined as date of termination of Vietnam era; P.A. 75-483 deleted foregoing amendment and substituted "the Vietnam era, January 1, 1964 to July 1, 1975"; P.A. 77-424 added qualification to service in Subdiv. (3) "of ninety or more days unless separated from service earlier because of a service connected disability-rated by the veterans administration"; P.A. 88-285 amended Subsec. (a) to change the date of termination of Korean hostilities from October 27, 1953, to January 31, 1955, and Subsec. (b) to add definitions of "eligible dependent" and "eligible family member"; P.A. 91-2 amended Subsec. (a) by adding service during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm to Subdiv. (3); P.A. 91-213 amended Subsec. (a) by changing the beginning of the period of service during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm from August 7, 1990, to August 2, 1990; P.A. 91-407 amended Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (a) by adding exception re war or campaign lasting for less than ninety days and added service during peace-keeping mission in Lebanon, invasion of Grenada, Operation Earnest Will and invasion of Panama; P.A. 94-245 amended Subsec. (a) to add a specific termination date for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, effective June 2, 1994; P.A. 95-300 amended Subsec. (a) to change the beginning of the Vietnam era to December 22, 1961 from January 1, 1964; P.A. 99- 272 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to add the Lebanon conflict, July 1, 1958, to November 1, 1958; the Berlin Airlift, August 14, 1961, to June 1, 1962; and to change the Vietnam era commencement date from December 22, 1961 to February 28, 1961; P.A. 00-131 amended Subsec. (a) to redefine "service in time of war" by adding dates of active duty service in South Korea demilitarized zone, Somalia and Bosnia.
See Secs. 5-180 and 5-196(29) for modification of the definition of war service during World War II for purposes of the State Employees Retirement Act and the State Personnel Act.

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Secs. 27-104, 27-104a and 27-105. Veterans' Home and Hospital Commission. Civil actions, claims and demands against commission members or employees; immunity; indemnification; representation by Attorney General. Officers; treasurer. Sections 27-104, 27-104a and 27-105 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 2926, 2927; 1955, S. 1636d; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 13; P.A. 73-643, S. 2; 76-371, S. 4, 5; P.A. 77-614, S. 339, 610; P.A. 79-560, S. 37, 39; P.A. 81-473, S. 34, 43; P.A. 88-285, S. 34, 35.)

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Sec. 27-106. Duties of commissioner re home and hospital. Expenditures from Institutional General Welfare Fund regulated. (a) The commissioner shall adopt and enforce such rules as may be necessary to ensure order, enforce discipline and preserve the health and ensure the comfort of the patients in the Veterans' Home and Hospital; and shall discipline or dismiss any officer or patient of the home and hospital who disobeys or infringes upon such rules. The commissioner shall appoint, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, such officers and employees as are necessary for the administration of the affairs of the home and hospital, shall prescribe the relative rank, if any, of such officers and employees, and shall commission each such officer, who shall wear such uniform, if any, as is prescribed by the commissioner.
(b) The chief fiscal officer shall submit an itemized list of expenditures made from the Institutional General Welfare Fund to the commissioner at intervals not greater than two months. Such list shall include all such expenditures made during the two-month period preceding its submission. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-56, the commissioner shall prescribe procedures to limit and specify the uses for which expenditures may be made from the Institutional General Welfare Fund so that only expenditures which, in the opinion of the commissioner and the board of trustees for the department appointed pursuant to section 27-102n, directly benefit veterans or the Veterans' Home and Hospital are permitted.
(c) In addition to the estimate of expenditure requirements required under section 4-77, the commissioner shall submit an accounting of all planned expenditures for the next fiscal year from the Institutional General Welfare Fund to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies at the time such estimate is submitted.
(1949 Rev., S. 2928; 1971, P.A. 48; 105, S. 4; P.A. 81-473, S. 35, 43; P.A. 82-314, S. 40, 63; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83- 32, S. 6, 8; P.A. 88-285, S. 4, 35; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 39, 55.)
History: 1971 act added "and hospital" following "home" where appearing, substituted "patient(s)" for "inmate(s)", substituted reference to chapter 67 for chapter 63; P.A. 81-473 added requirement that an itemized list of expenditures from institutional general welfare fund be submitted to the commission at least every two months and added Subsecs. (b) and (c) requiring that commission adopt regulations limiting expenditures from said fund to those which directly benefit veterans and that commission submit an accounting of planned expenditures from said fund to the general assembly's appropriations committee; P.A. 82-314 changed official name of appropriations committee; June Sp. Sess. 83-32 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize the commission to prescribe procedures rather than adopt regulations to prescribe use of the general welfare fund and added "in the opinion of the commission" and "or the veterans' home and hospital"; P.A. 88-285 (1) replaced commission with commissioner throughout the section, (2) amended Subsec. (a) to require commissioner to appoint a commandant of the home and hospital, subject to governor's approval and to make technical changes and (3) amended Subsec. (b) to include reference to the board of trustees for the home and hospital appointed pursuant to Sec. 27- 102m; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 in Subsec. (a) eliminated the commandant's position and in Subsec. (b) required the chief fiscal officer to submit a list of expenses from the institutional general welfare fund at least every two years.

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Sec. 27-107. State police duty. Regulation of traffic at Veterans' Home and Hospital. (a) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall assign one or more state policemen for duty at the home as may be requested by the commissioner.
(b) The commissioner, subject to the approval of the State Traffic Commission, may prohibit, limit, restrict or regulate the parking of vehicles, may determine speed limits, may restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic and may designate the location of crosswalks on any portion of any road or highway upon the grounds of the Veterans' Home and Hospital, and may erect and maintain signs designating such prohibitions or restrictions. Security officers or institutional patrolmen appointed to act as state policemen under the provisions of section 29-18 may arrest or issue a summons for violation of such restrictions or prohibitions. Any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars, and the court or traffic or parking authority having jurisdiction of traffic or parking violations in the town of Rocky Hill shall have jurisdiction over violations of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 2939; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 80-49, S. 2; P.A. 88-285, S. 5, 35.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted "commissioner of public safety" for "commissioner of state police", effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-49 provided for regulation of parking and speed limits by the commission with the approval of the state traffic commission in new Subsec. (b) and for implementing procedures, prohibitions, restrictions with a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars for violations within jurisdiction in the court or traffic authority in the town of Rocky Hill; P.A. 88-285 replaced veterans' home and hospital commission with commissioner.

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Sec. 27-108. Admission. Discharge. Transfer. Payment. (a) Any veteran may apply for admission to the home; and any veteran who, from disease, wounds or accident, needs medical or surgical care and treatment or who has become mentally ill and who has no adequate means of support, may be admitted to any hospital and receive necessary food, clothing, care and treatment therein, at the expense of the state.
(b) Any veteran desiring care or treatment under the provisions of this chapter shall make application under oath to the Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs; but, if, by reason of his physical condition, he is unable to make such application, some other veteran may make such application in his behalf. Said commissioner, or his designee, shall have sole power to determine whether such veteran is entitled to admission to the home or to a hospital, and such veteran, if admitted, may, upon application to the commissioner, receive transportation at the expense of the state from his place of residence to the home or such hospital. No veteran so admitted shall be discharged from the home or hospital except upon the approval of the commissioner or his designee. The commissioner shall have sole power to remove any veteran whose care and treatment is paid for by the state from any hospital to another and shall appoint such agents as are necessary to see that veterans admitted to hospitals are receiving necessary food, clothing, care and treatment.
(c) Such veterans who are able to pay in whole or in part for such program or services, as determined by the applicable fee schedule adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of section 27-102l, shall receive a monthly bill for such services rendered.
(d) In the event that a bill of a veteran remains unpaid and past due, the chief fiscal officer, with the approval of the commissioner, shall require the veteran to assign his or her right to receive payment of income, from whatever source, to the commissioner until (1) such account is made current, and (2) the veteran demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner a reasonable likelihood of more prudent financial management for the future. Any veteran shall be provided an opportunity for a hearing when an order of assignment is issued.
(e) Payment of amounts determined by the commissioner as provided by subsection (c) of this section shall be deposited in the Institutional General Welfare Fund of the Veterans' Home and Hospital established in accordance with sections 4-56 to 4-58, inclusive, and shall be available for expenditure from said fund for the operation of the Veterans' Home and Hospital in accordance with procedures prescribed by the commissioner and the Comptroller.
(f) In the event that a veteran dies, still owing money for services rendered, the commissioner, with the aid of the Attorney General's office, may submit a claim against such veteran's estate and any amounts collected shall be deposited in the Institutional General Welfare Fund in accordance with section 4-56.
(1949 Rev., S. 2929; 1963, P.A. 340; P.A. 75-351; P.A. 81-265; 81-473, S. 39, 43; P.A. 82-472, S. 181, 183; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-32, S. 7, 8; P.A. 88-1, S. 10, 13; 88-285, S. 6, 35; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 40, 55; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 54, 121.)
History: 1963 act added new Subsec. (d) providing for payments to be deposited in the institutional general welfare fund; P.A. 75-351 deleted in Subsec. (a) qualifying word "male" from those entitled to admission; P.A. 81-265 amended Subsec. (a) to extend eligibility for admission to the Veterans' Home and Hospital to those veterans who served ninety days or more between October 28, 1953, and January 31, 1955; P.A. 81-473 rephrased provision re admission for persons having military service during the period between October 28, 1953, and January 31, 1955; P.A. 82-472 made a technical change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-32 amended Subsec. (d) to make funds received as payments from the estates of deceased veterans available for the operation of the veterans' home and hospital in accordance with prescribed procedures, replacing prior provisions re use of such funds; P.A. 88-1 amended Subsec. (d) to provide that expenditure of amounts deposited in fund shall be in accordance with procedures prescribed by the commissioner and the comptroller, rather than procedures prescribed by the commission and the secretary of the office of policy and management; P.A. 88-285 (1) replaced commission with commissioner throughout the section, (2) amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to "persons who served honorably in the armed forces of the United States for ninety days or more between October 28, 1953, and January 31, 1955, or who served honorably for a shorter time during such period if separated from service by reason of a service-connected disability rated by the Veterans' Administration", (3) deleted the provisions of Subsec. (c), substituting in lieu thereof requirement that veterans able to pay for program or services receive a monthly bill, (4)inserted new provisions in Subsec. (d), requiring assignment of income in the event a veteran's bill remains unpaid and past due, (5) amended Subsec. (e), formerly Subsec. (d), to delete authority to receive payment from the estates of deceased veterans and to replace reference to office of policy and management with comptroller and (6) added Subsec. (f), re submission of a claim against a veteran's estate if he dies still owing money for services rendered; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 in Subsec. (a) allowed rather than entitled veterans to be admitted to a hospital and to be transported at the state's expense, in Subsec. (d) transferred from the commandant to the chief fiscal officer the responsibility for collecting unpaid bills and in Subsec. (f) transferred from the commandant to the commissioner the responsibility to submit a claim against a deceased veteran's estate for an unpaid bill; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (c), effective June 24, 1998.
Cited. 160 C. 320. This section empowers the commission to determine in its discretion whether the veteran or his estate has the means to pay for service furnished hereunder, the amount be paid and the manner and time of payment. 169 C. 78. Cited. 171 C. 335. Cited. 189 C. 726.

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Sec. 27-109. Hospital care. Any hospital, upon request of the commissioner, shall furnish any veteran, determined by the commissioner to be entitled to admission thereto, necessary food, clothing, care and treatment therein at the expense of the state, and such veteran shall have preference for admission into such hospital.
(1949 Rev., S. 2930; P.A. 88-285, S. 9. 35.)
History: P.A. 88-285 replaced commission with commissioner.

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Sec. 27-110. Commitment of mentally ill veterans. Transfer to federal agency. (a) When it appears that any veteran is eligible for treatment in a Veterans' Administration facility, and commitment is necessary for the care and treatment of such veteran, the court of probate of the district in which the veteran is found may, upon receipt of a certificate of eligibility from the Veterans' Administration, and if the veteran is adjudged mentally ill in accordance with law, direct such veteran's commitment to the Veterans' Administration for hospitalization in a Veterans' Administration facility. Thereafter such veteran, upon admission to any such facility, shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the Veterans' Administration and the chief officer of such facility shall be vested with the same powers as are exercised by superintendents of state hospitals for mental illness within this state with reference to the retention, transfer or parole of the veteran so committed. Notice of such pending commitment proceedings shall be furnished the person to be committed and his right to appear and defend shall not be denied. Any court of probate may order the discharge of such veteran, upon application and satisfactory proof that such veteran has been restored to reason. The commitment of a veteran to the Veterans' Administration or other agency of the United States government by a court of another state or of the District of Columbia, under a similar provision of law, shall have the same force and effect as if such commitment were made by a court of this state.
(b) Upon receipt of a certificate of the Veterans' Administration or any other agency of the United States that facilities are available for the care or treatment of any veteran committed to any hospital for mental illness or other institution for the care or treatment of persons similarly afflicted and that such veteran is eligible for care or treatment, the superintendent of such hospital or institution may cause the transfer of such person to the Veterans' Administration or other agency of the United States for care or treatment. Upon effecting any such transfer, the committing court or proper officer thereof shall be notified of such transfer by the transferring agency. No person shall be transferred to the Veterans' Administration or other agency of the United States if he is confined pursuant to conviction of any felony or misdemeanor or if he has been acquitted of such a charge solely on the ground of insanity, unless prior to transfer the court or other authority originally committing such person enters an order for such transfer after appropriate motion and hearing. Any person transferred as provided in this section shall be deemed to be committed to the Veterans' Administration or other agency of the United States pursuant to the original commitment.
(1949 Rev., S. 2931; 1949, 1951, S. 1637d.)

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Secs. 27-111 to 27-115. Fees for commitment. Care elsewhere than in Veterans' Home and Hospital. Treatment of dipsomaniacs. Commission to investigate complaints. Support of dependents. Sections 27-111 to 27-115, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 2932--2936; 1949, S. 1638d; 1951, S. 1640d; June, 1955, S. 1639d; 1963, P.A. 622; 1967, P.A. 843, S. 1; P.A. 74-321, S. 17; P.A. 86-394, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-285, S. 10, 11, 34, 35; P.A. 90-230, S. 37, 101; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-9, S. 9, 10; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 54, 55; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-14, S. 28, 30.)

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Sec. 27-115a. Appropriation. Obsolete.
(1967, P.A. 843, S. 2.)

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Sec. 27-115b. Eligible family members to participate in programs administered by department. Eligible family members may participate in a program or service administered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, in accordance with the regulations and procedures adopted for the operation, administration and management of such program or service.
(P.A. 88-285, S. 7, 35.)

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Sec. 27-116. Weekly allowances to widows of veterans of Civil War or Spanish- American War. Weekly allowances, to be determined by the commissioner, but in no case in excess of the amount required for the support of a patient of the home, shall be paid by the Comptroller for the support and maintenance of the widow of a man who served in the military or naval forces of the United States, in either the Civil or Spanish- American War, who had been honorably discharged from the same and was a resident of this state at the time of his death; if any such widow, at the time of making application for such aid, is without adequate means of support or by reason of age or disability is unable to support herself and if such widow was married prior to June 27, 1905, if her husband was a veteran of the Civil War, or prior to January 1, 1938, if her husband was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and if such widow lived with such husband continuously from the time of her marriage to him to the time of his death, separations of a temporary or ordinary nature excepted, and if such widow is a resident of this state when applying for such aid and continues to reside in this state while receiving it.
(1949 Rev., S. 2937; 1971, P.A. 105, S. 3; P.A. 88-285, S. 12, 35.)
History: 1971 act substituted "patient" for "inmate"; P.A. 88-285 replaced commission with commissioner.

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Sec. 27-117. Disclosure of property of applicant. Any person who has in his possession or control any property of any person applying for or receiving aid from the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines' Fund or the department, or who is indebted to such applicant or recipient or has knowledge of any property belonging to him, and any officer who has control of the books and accounts of any corporation which has possession or control of any property belonging to any person applying for or receiving such aid or is indebted to him, shall, upon presentation by the disbursing officer thereof or any person deputized by him of a certificate signed by him, stating that such applicant or recipient has applied for or is receiving aid from said fund or the department, make full disclosure to such disbursing officer or deputy of any such property or indebtedness. Such disclosure may be obtained in like manner of the property or indebtedness of any person liable for the support of any such applicant or recipient.
(1949 Rev., S. 2938; P.A. 88-285, S. 13, 35.)
History: P.A. 88-285 replaced veterans' home and hospital commission with department.

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Sec. 27-118. Burial expenses. When any veteran dies, not having sufficient estate to pay the necessary expenses of his last sickness and burial, as determined by the commissioner after consultation with the probate court for the district in which the veteran resided, the state shall pay the sum of one hundred fifty dollars toward such funeral expenses, and the burial shall be in some cemetery or plot not used exclusively for the burial of the pauper dead, and the same amount shall be paid if the body is cremated, but no amount shall be paid for the expenses for burial or cremation unless claim therefor is made within one year from the date of death; provided, in cases of death occurring abroad, such claim may be made within one year after the remains of such veteran have been interred in this country. No provision of this section shall prevent the payment of the sum above named for the burial of any person, otherwise entitled to the same, on account of such burial being made outside the limits of this state. Upon satisfactory proof by the person who has paid or provided for the funeral or burial expense to the commissioner of the identity of the deceased, the time and place of his death and burial and the approval thereof by the commissioner, said sum of one hundred fifty dollars shall be paid by the Comptroller to the person who has paid the funeral or burial expense or, upon assignment by such person, to the funeral director who has provided the funeral. Whenever the Comptroller has lawfully paid any sum toward the expenses of the burial of any deceased veteran and it afterwards appears that the deceased left any estate, the Comptroller may present a claim in behalf of the state against the estate of such deceased veteran for the sum so paid, and the claim shall be a preferred claim against such estate and shall be paid to the Treasurer of the state. The commissioner, upon the advice of the Attorney General, may make application for administration upon the estate of any such deceased veteran if no other person authorized by law makes such application within sixty days after such payment has been made by the Comptroller.
(1949 Rev., S. 2940; September, 1950, 1951, 1953, S. 1641d; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 31; 1961, P.A. 309; 1963, P.A. 610; 1967, P.A. 664; P.A. 88-285, S. 14, 35.)
History: 1961 act changed provision that municipality pay burial expense to requirement that an allowance of one hundred fifty dollars be paid toward funeral expenses by municipality, reimbursable by the state; 1963 act deleted provisions for municipality to pay allowance toward expenses, added provision for determination by the commission in consultation with probate court that estate is insufficient to defray expenses and provided for payment of the allowance to the person who paid the funeral expenses; 1967 act amended latter provision to include whoever provided for the funeral and for payment to funeral director where assignment made to him; P.A. 88-285 replaced veterans' home and hospital commission with commissioner.

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Sec. 27-119. Veterans' headstones, services to be provided by state. When the grave of any person who, in time of war, served in the military or naval forces of the English colonies in America, prior to 1776, or the grave of any veteran, which is located in this state, is unmarked by a suitable headstone, or is marked by a bronze marker erected by this state, the Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs shall, upon application made not later than two years after the death of such veteran or two years from the interment of the remains of such veteran from abroad, provide payment for the costs of erecting headstones provided by the federal government and shall furnish transportation costs, where none are provided, for said headstones from the nearest destination point to which the federal government will deliver such headstones, to the gravesite, provided such payment is requested not later than one year from the date of the approval of such application. The expense of transportation and the erection or installation of such headstone to an amount not exceeding an amount prescribed by the commissioner, shall be paid by the Comptroller.
(1949 Rev., S. 2941; 1969, P.A. 170, S. 1; P.A. 73-501; P.A. 88-285, S. 15, 35; P.A. 97-150; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98- 1, S. 55, 121.)
History: 1969 act increased ceiling on cost of headstone from fifty to seventy-five dollars; P.A. 73-501 deleted provisions pertaining to furnishing headstones and provided for payment of cost of erecting and transporting headstones provided by the federal government; P.A. 88-285 replaced veterans' home and hospital commission with commissioner; P.A. 97-150 limited requirement of commissioner to pay cost of erecting headstones to cases where application for payment occurs no later than two years from date of death or interment of remains from abroad and authorized payment for certain expenses of headstones to an amount not exceeding amount prescribed by commissioner; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 added specific reference to Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs, effective June 24, 1998.
Contract for headstones made under former statute held discharged by second contract. 124 C. 304. 1937 change in statute discussed. 5 CS 495.

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Sec. 27-119a. Markers for graves of colonial and Revolutionary War veterans. The commissioner shall, upon application made by the chief executive authority of the town, city or borough wherein the deceased is buried, cause a metal marker and flag holder to be placed on the grave of any person who, in time of war, served in the military or naval forces of the English colonies in America, prior to 1776, or who served in the military or naval forces of the United States in the Revolutionary War, which grave is not so marked.
(February, 1965, P.A. 588, S. 1; P.A. 88-285, S. 16, 35.)
History: P.A. 88-285 replaced veterans' home and hospital commission with commissioner.

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Sec. 27-120. Memorials for veterans buried abroad or missing. If any person who, in time of war, served in the military or naval forces of the English colonies in America, prior to 1776, or of the state of Connecticut or in the armed forces of the United States, and was credited to said colonies, state or the United States, died during such service of disease or wounds, or was killed in action, died in prison or was lost at sea, and whose body was never brought home for interment, or who was reported missing in action and has not been heard from, the commissioner shall, upon proper application, with satisfactory proof, made by the chief executive authority of the municipality of which the deceased was a resident, as to his identity and honorable service, cause to be erected in any cemetery or public place in such municipality, at a cost to the state of not more than fifty dollars, a marker or soldier's headstone, having inscribed thereon the name of such person, the organization to which he belonged, and the place of his death or burial or when he was reported as missing in action or lost at sea.
(1949 Rev., S. 2942; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 32; P.A. 88-285, S. 17, 35.)
History: P.A. 88-285 replaced veterans' home and hospital commission with commissioner.
Cited. 124 C. 306.

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Sec. 27-121. Municipal memorials for deceased and missing veterans. If the chief executive authority of any municipality which had as residents several veterans who were killed or lost as described in section 27-120, and to whose memory markers or headstones have not already been erected, prefers a memorial stone or plaque with the names of all such veterans inscribed thereon, erected in a public place or cemetery in such municipality, the commissioner shall cause such a suitable memorial to be erected in such municipality, which memorial shall be of such design and material and of such cost as the commissioner determines. If any municipality, organization or person contributes toward the erection of such memorial, the location of the same shall be determined by the commissioner and a committee of two persons appointed by the municipality, organization or individuals making such contribution. Any such memorial may include the names of any veterans who died or were killed in action as described in said section 27-120 and whose bodies have been brought home for interment whenever the municipality wherein such memorial is to be erected, or any organization or person, agrees with the commissioner to share proportionately the cost of erecting such memorial.
(1949 Rev., S. 2943; 1953, 1955, S. 1642d; P.A. 88-285, S. 18, 35.)
History: P.A. 88-285 replaced veterans' home and hospital commission with commissioner.

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Sec. 27-122. Plot in Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven. Section 27-122 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 2944; 1963, P.A. 402.)

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Sec. 27-122a. Establishment of veterans' cemetery. (a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall transfer to the Veterans' Home and Hospital Commission two certain pieces or parcels of land known as Plot # 6, containing thirty acres, more or less, situated on the north side of River Road in the town of Middletown, county of Middlesex, and state of Connecticut, and being bounded and described as follows: As to the first piece or parcel; Commencing at a point in the northerly side of River Road being the southeast corner of the land herein described, thence running N 31 degrees E a distance of 286 feet, more or less, to the right-of-way of the Penn Central Railroad (Valley Line), thence running westerly along said right-of-way a distance of 2720 feet, more or less, thence running southerly 80 feet, more or less, to River Road, thence running southeasterly along the northern boundary of River Road a distance of 530 feet, more or less, to a brook, thence running N 80 degrees E along the north side of River Road to a bend in said road a distance of 380 feet, more or less, thence S 82 degrees E a distance of 1160 feet, more or less along the northern side of River Road to the point and place of beginning. As to the second piece or parcel of land being a small piece or parcel located on the northerly side of the Penn Central Railroad (Valley Line) right-of-way, bounded on the northerly and westerly side by the Connecticut River and on the southerly side by said railroad right-of-way and on the easterly side by property of the Feldspar Corporation. Said two pieces or parcels of land contain a total area of thirty acres, more or less, and are shown on a map or plan titled, "The Connecticut State Hospital Middletown, Conn. Scale 1" = 200' 1922".
(b) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall transfer to the Veterans' Home and Hospital certain land in the city of Middletown, under the supervision and control of said commissioner, in exchange for the transfer by the Veterans' Home and Hospital Commission to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services of certain land comprised of pieces and parcels of the land described in subsection (a) of equal acreage, the exact boundaries of the lands to be exchanged to be decided by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, with the advice and assistance of all parties within the six-month period following June 14, 1979.
(c) The land transferred to the commission under subsections (a) and (b) and not transferred to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Connecticut Valley Hospital shall be used by the Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs for the establishment and maintenance of a veterans' cemetery.
(1971, P.A. 352, S. 1; P.A. 79-478, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-285, S. 19, 35; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 58.)
History: P.A. 79-478 provided, in new Subsec. (b), for an exchange of land between the commissioner of mental health and the veterans' home and hospital commission; P.A. 88-285 amended Subsec. (c) to replace commission with commissioner of veterans' affairs; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995.

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Sec. 27-122b. Eligibility for burial in veterans' cemetery. Consecrated area designation. (a) As used in this section: (1) "Armed forces" includes the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard or any women's auxiliary branch thereof, organized pursuant to an Act of Congress; (2) "veteran" means any person honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from, active service in the armed forces after service in time of war and who at the time of entering the armed forces was domiciled in this state or who was domiciled in this state at the time of his death and had been so domiciled for a period of not less than five years since such discharge or release; (3) "service in time of war" means service during the Spanish- American War, April 21, 1898, to August 13, 1898; the Philippine insurrection, August 13, 1898, to July 4, 1902, but as to engagements in the Moro Province, to July 15, 1903; the Boxer Rebellion, June 20, 1900, to May 12, 1901; the Cuban pacification, September 12, 1906, to April 1, 1909; the Nicaraguan campaign, August 28, 1912, to November 2, 1913; the Haitian campaign, July 9, 1915, to December 6, 1915; the punitive expedition into Mexico, March 10, 1916, to April 6, 1917; World War I, April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, but as to service in Russia, to April 1, 1920; World War II, December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946; and the Korean hostilities, June 27, 1950, to October 27, 1953; and shall include service during the Vietnam era, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103; the invasion of Grenada, October 25, 1983, to December 15, 1983; and the peace-keeping mission in Lebanon, August, 1982, to March, 1984; and shall include service during such periods with the armed forces of any government associated with the United States.
(b) (1) Any veteran may, by letter or other communication addressed to the commissioner, or by will, request that upon his death his body be buried in said veterans' cemetery, or (2) the spouse or other next of kin may apply to the commissioner to have the body of such veteran buried in said veterans' cemetery, and in either case such request shall be granted.
(c) The spouse of any veteran shall, upon similar request or application made to the commissioner, be buried in said veterans' cemetery provided only one such request or application shall be granted.
(d) The commissioner shall designate an area in said veterans' cemetery for veterans who, for religious reasons, require burial in a consecrated area.
(1971, P.A. 352, S. 2; P.A. 75-483, S. 5, 10; P.A. 81-65; P.A. 88-74; 88-285, S. 20, 33, 35.)
History: P.A. 75-483 substituted "as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103" for language defining the service period for the Vietnam era; P.A. 81-65 added Subsec. (d) requiring the commission to designate a consecrated area within the veterans' cemetery; P.A. 81-65 effective at such time as the veterans' home and hospital commission declares that the establishment of said veterans' cemetery has been effected; P.A. 88-74 amended (1) Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (a), including service during invasion of Grenada and Lebanon in definition of "service in time of war", and (2) Subsec. (c), permitting one spouse of a veteran to be buried in the cemetery, regardless of order of death; P.A. 88-285 amended Subsecs. (b) to (d), inclusive, to replace commission with commissioner and changed effective date of P.A. 88-74 from October 1, 1988, to July 1, 1988.

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Sec. 27-123. Graves of soldiers and sailors. In each city and town there shall be appointed annually, by the chief executive authority of the city or town, a committee of three citizens of the city or town, who are veterans and whose duty it shall be to see that the grave of any person who served in time of war in the military or naval forces of the English colonies in America, prior to 1776, or of the state of Connecticut or in the armed forces of the United States, shall be suitably kept and cared for. If the cost of such care and maintenance is not paid by private persons or by the trustees of the cemetery where any such grave is situated, it shall be paid by the city or town; and cities and towns are authorized to appropriate money for such purpose. Money so appropriated may be expended directly by the city or town or may be paid to the trustees or manager of the cemetery in which any such grave is located; but the sum paid in any year shall not exceed for any such grave the sum usually charged for the annual care and maintenance of a grave in the same cemetery or, if no such charge is made in that cemetery, it shall not exceed the sum charged in other cemeteries in the same city or town for such service, provided, when any such grave has settled appreciably, such sum may be exceeded.
(1949 Rev., S. 653; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 12; 350, S. 1.)

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Sec. 27-124. Celebrations and memorials. Any town, at a town meeting warned and held for such purpose, and any city or borough, by its aldermen, common council or burgesses, may appropriate money for public celebrations in honor of members of the armed forces and veterans, and for the erection of a suitable memorial structure in honor of those members and veterans who were residents of such municipality at the time of their enlistment or induction into the armed forces for service in war; and may appoint committees to select and secure an appropriate site for such memorial, to supervise and direct its design and construction and expend the money appropriated therefor. No part of any such appropriation shall be expended for the site for such memorial and no appropriation for any memorial shall exceed an amount equal to fifteen cents on each one hundred dollars of the grand list of any town, city or borough making an appropriation for such purpose.
(1949 Rev., S. 652; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 11.)
See Sec. 27-121 re municipal memorials for deceased and missing veterans.

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Sec. 27-125. Temporary assistance. Any veteran who is a citizen of this state and who, through disability or other causes incident to service in the armed forces in time of war, is in need of temporary financial assistance may be provided for by the commissioner by a method similar to that provided in section 27-82, the amount and continuance of such assistance to be discretionary with the commissioner. The widow, widower and each child, parent, brother or sister of any member of the armed forces, who died while in such active service, may be assisted by the commissioner if such person or persons are without sufficient means of support by reason of the death of such member of the armed forces. In carrying out his duties under the provisions of this section, the commissioner is directed to cooperate with such federal agencies as may aid in securing prompt and suitable treatment, care and relief of any such member of the armed forces or his or her dependents. The records of the agencies of the state shall be placed at the disposal of the commissioner and such agencies are directed to cooperate with and to assist the commissioner in carrying out his duties.
(1949 Rev., S. 2945; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 33; P.A. 74-321, S. 18; P.A. 88-285, S. 21, 35.)
History: P.A. 74-321 added "widower" to those who may be assisted; P.A. 88-285 replaced veterans' home and hospital commission with commissioner.

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Sec. 27-126. Aid restricted. No person shall receive aid under the provisions of this part who is receiving aid under the provisions of part II of this chapter, and no person receiving aid under the provisions of section 27-125 shall receive aid under any other provision of this chapter.
(1949 Rev., S. 2946, 2960.)
Cited. 111 C. 295.

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Sec. 27-127. Veterans' Relief Fund. Section 27-127 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 2947; 1972, P.A. 294, S. 25.)

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Sec. 27-128. Governor authorized to transfer moneys between veterans' funds. The Governor is authorized to transfer, from time to time, as may be found expedient, funds existing in the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines' Fund and funds of the Veterans' Home and Hospital from one of said funds to the other of said funds.
(1949 Rev., S. 2947; 1972, P.A. 294, S. 26; P.A. 88-285, S. 22, 35.)
History: 1972 act deleted the veterans' relief fund; P.A. 88-285 deleted reference to "commission".

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Sec. 27-129. Conservator for incompetent veteran. When an application is filed for the appointment of a conservator for an incompetent veteran, a certificate of the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs of the United States or his authorized representative that such person has been rated incompetent by the Veterans' Administration on examination in accordance with the laws and regulations governing such Veterans' Administration and that appointment of a conservator is a condition precedent to the payment of any moneys due such veteran by the Veterans' Administration shall be prima facie evidence of the necessity for such appointment.
(1953, S. 1645d.)

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Sec. 27-130. Acquisition of property by veterans' organizations. The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, The Disabled American Veterans of the World War, Italian American War Veterans of the United States, Incorporated, The Jewish War Veterans of the United States, The Catholic War Veterans, The Polish Legion of American Veterans, The Marine Corps League, the AMVETS and The American Veterans Committee and their respective local posts may receive or hold in trust gifts, testamentary or otherwise, and may purchase or receive gifts of such real estate as may be necessary or advantageous for the conduct of their business.
(1949 Rev., S. 2948; 1949, 1953, S. 1643d; 1961, P.A. 261, S. 1.)
History: 1961 act corrected name of Italian American organization.

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Sec. 27-131. Preservation of Spanish war records. (a) The Commissioner of Public Works is authorized to maintain a headquarters of the Department of Connecticut United Spanish War Veterans, under the management and control of its state commander, and to collect, classify, index and install in said headquarters all available material, records, histories, relics and mementoes relating to Connecticut participation, public or private, in the war with Spain and thus establish a permanent record of its extent and character, such record to be as complete and comprehensive as possible and to cover not only the activities of the state, its subdivisions and agencies, but also of Connecticut agencies of the federal government, of organizations of private persons and of those individuals who were direct participants in said war, whether as soldiers or sailors or otherwise. Said record shall, at all times, be accessible under such rules as said department prescribes. Said department may also use said headquarters for furnishing information and aid to needy veterans of the war with Spain and their dependents. If, at any time, said department is dissolved or ceases to exist or becomes inactive, said records shall become the property of the state of Connecticut and shall be transferred to the department of war records of the State Library. The state commander of said department shall report biennially to the General Assembly upon all such matters concerning said organization as he deems of interest to the citizens of the state.
(b) Said commissioner shall provide and maintain in a building owned by the state a suitable room or rooms for the use of said department, together with suitable equipment and supplies therefor.
(c) Appropriations for this purpose shall not exceed twenty-five hundred dollars annually.
(1949 Rev., S. 2949; P.A. 77-614, S. 73, 610; P.A. 87-496, S. 97, 110.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted "commissioner of administrative services" for "public works commissioner"; P.A. 87-496 substituted "public works" for "administrative services" commissioner in Subsec. (a).

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Sec. 27-132. Roster of Connecticut men and women in armed forces during the First World War. The Adjutant General is directed to prepare, publish and distribute one thousand copies of a roster, together with an index thereto, of the men and women of Connecticut, who served in the armed forces of the United States during the First World War, at any time between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, inclusive, and with the United States military forces in Russia at any time between April 6, 1917, and April 1, 1920, inclusive, whose military or naval service was credited to this state; such roster to show the name, rank, town of residence, date and place of birth, date of enlistment or induction and the service record of each person.
(1949 Rev., S. 1314.)

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Sec. 27-133. Distribution and sale of World War I roster. The Adjutant General shall forward, gratis, copies of such roster and index, as follows: To the Secretary of the State, two copies; to the State Librarian, two copies; to the Commissioner of Social Services, two copies; to the chairman of the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines' Fund, two copies; to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, six copies; to each town clerk and each town or city department of public welfare, one copy; to the state departments and national headquarters of the American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, the Yankee Division Veterans Association, Italian American War Veterans of the United States, Incorporated, The Polish-American Veterans of the World War, The Jewish War Veterans of the United States, The Veterans of World War I of the United States of America Department of Connecticut, Incorporated, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart, one copy each, to be kept in their respective offices; to the Adjutant General of the United States Army, the chief of the Bureau of Navigation of the United States Navy and the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, two copies each; to the Adjutant General of each state and territory of the United States and the District of Columbia, one copy each; to each college and each library in this state open to the public, one copy, and to the Librarian of the United States, two copies; the remaining copies to be retained in the office of the Adjutant General for future distribution and sale at a price of fifty dollars, including the index.
(1949 Rev., S. 1315; 1961, P.A. 261, S. 2; 275; P.A. 77-614, S. 521, 610; P.A. 88-285, S. 23, 35; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87.)
History: 1961 acts corrected name of Italian American organization and added reference to veterans of World War I organization; P.A. 77-614 substituted "commissioner of human resources" for "commissioner of social services", effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 88-285 replaced veterans' home and hospital commission with department of veterans' affairs; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993.

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Sec. 27-134. Copies of statutes for veterans' organizations. The Secretary of the State shall provide each established veterans' organization occupying office space furnished by the state in the city of Hartford with an annotated copy of the revised statutes and any supplements thereto.
(1953, S. 1646d.)

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Sec. 27-135. Local veterans' advisory committees. Any city or town, either separately or with one or more other cities and towns, may, by ordinance, establish a local veterans' advisory committee which shall have the responsibility of carrying out locally the duties and purposes of this section and, within their charter powers and as otherwise provided by law, may make available to such local committees the necessary funds to carry out their duties and responsibilities. The committee may (a) act as the coordinating agency in all matters concerning veterans and their dependents, coordinating the activities of public and private facilities concerned with veterans' reemployment, education, rehabilitation and adjustment to peacetime living; (b) cooperate with all national, state and local governmental and private agencies in securing services and benefits to which a veteran or his dependents may be entitled; (c) use the services and facilities of the veterans organizations so far as possible to carry out the purposes of this section; and (d) encourage and coordinate vocational training services for veterans.
(1949, S. 1647d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 78.)

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Sec. 27-136. Powers of attorney granted by persons in armed forces. No person who acts under a power of attorney of a principal in the armed forces of the United States, or of a principal whose duties in connection with any service in which the armed forces, as defined by section 27-103, are engaged involve his absence from this country, shall be liable for any such act on the ground that such principal was not alive when such act was performed if such act was performed in good faith and without knowledge of the death of the principal. All such acts shall have the same force and effect upon title and in all other respects as though the principal were alive.
(1949 Rev., S. 7128; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 41.)

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Sec. 27-137. Acknowledgments by persons serving in armed forces and spouses. In addition to the acknowledgment of instruments in the manner and form otherwise authorized by law, any person serving in or with the armed forces of the United States and his or her spouse, may acknowledge any such instrument before any officer in active service in the armed forces of the United States with the rank of second lieutenant or higher in the Army or Marine Corps, or ensign or higher in the Navy or Coast Guard. No such instrument shall be rendered invalid by failure to state therein the place of execution or acknowledgment. No authentication of such officer's certificate of acknowledgment shall be required, but he shall endorse thereon his rank and the command to which he is attached.
(1949 Rev., S. 7129; P.A. 75-195.)
History: P.A. 75-195 added application of section to "his or her spouse".
See Sec. 1-38 re form of acknowledgment of instrument by person in armed forces.

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PART II
SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND MARINES' FUND