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Ohio
Key Vote
Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $150 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the "rainy day fund," to establish and administer the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Program to provide payments to qualifying veterans and family members of soldiers killed during active duty.
Official Title of Legislation:
HB 649: A Bill To amend section 5902.02 and to enact sections 5902.16 and 5902.161 of the Revised Code to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts.
Official Synopsis:
- Requires the Director of Veterans Services to implement and administer a compensation program for persons who served in active duty in the United States Armed Services during the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts.
- Establishes eligibility requirements and compensation amounts for those persons and for the spouse, children, or parents of such a person if the person is deceased or determined to be missing in action or a prisoner of war.
- Requires the Director of Budget and Management to transfer $150 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund to the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Fund created in the bill (from which fund the compensation is to be paid) and authorizes the Director of Veterans Services to request an additional transfer of up to $50 million.
- Requires, upon payment of all valid claims under the program, the Director of Veterans Services to submit a final report to the General Assembly and the transfer of any funds remaining in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Fund to the Budget Stabilization Fund.
Highlights:
- Authorizes qualified veterans to receive $50 for each month of active domestic or foreign service and $150 for each month of Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq service during the compensable periods. The total amount a qualified veteran may receive is capped at $1,000 (Sec. 1).
- Authorizes the surviving spouse, surviving child or children, or surviving parent or parents of a soldier designated as missing in action or held in enemy captivity to receive a payment of $5,000, provided that the U.S. Department of Defense has determined that the soldier's death was a result of injuries or illness sustained in Persian gulf, Afghanistan, or Iraq service (Sec. 1).
- Establishes the following criteria for veterans to qualify for payments (Sec. 1):- Active duty service in the United States armed forces (other than service for training only) at any time between August 2, 1990 and March 3, 1991, between October 7, 2001 and the end of armed forces involvement in Afghanistan, or between March 19, 2003 and the end of armed forces involvement in Iraq;
- Ohio residency both now and for at least one year prior to the start of active duty service; and
- Recipient of an honorable discharge, currently engaged in active duty service, retired from active duty service, or currently serving in the Ohio national guard after serving on active duty. - Authorizes the Director of Veterans Services to request, if necessary, up to an additional $50 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund for the program (Sec. 1).
Full Text of Legislation (PDF Document)
House Passage: 12/16/2008 : Bill Passed 54 - 42 Senate Passage: 12/18/2008 : Bill Passed: 23 - 8 Governor Passage: 01/06/2009 : Vetoed
Sponsor: Rep. Hottinger, Jay
Cosponsors: Rep. Adams, John
Rep. Aslanides, James (out of office)
Sen. Austria, Steven (out of office)
Rep. Bacon, Kevin
Rep. Batchelder, William
Sen. Buehrer, Stephen
Sen. Carey, John Jr.
Sen. Cates, Gary
Rep. Ciafardini, Andrew (out of office)
Rep. Collier, Thom (out of office)
Rep. Daniels, David
Rep. Dolan, Matthew
Rep. Evans, Clyde
Sen. Faber, Keith
Rep. Flowers, Larry (out of office)
Rep. Gibbs, Bob (out of office)
| Sen. Goodman, David
Rep. Goodwin, Bruce
Sen. Grendell, Timothy
Rep. Hagan, John (out of office)
Sen. Harris, Bill
Rep. Hite, Clifford
Rep. Hughes, James (out of office)
Rep. Jones, Shannon (out of office)
Rep. McGregor, Ross
Sen. Mumper, Larry (out of office)
Sen. Niehaus, Tom
Sen. Padgett, Joy (out of office)
Sen. Patton, Thomas
Rep. Peterson, Jon (out of office)
Rep. Reinhard, Steve (out of office)
Sen. Schaffer, Tim
| Rep. Schindel, Carol-Ann (out of office)
Rep. Schlichter, John (out of office)
Rep. Schneider, Michelle (out of office)
Sen. Schuler, Robert (out of office)
Sen. Schuring, J.
Rep. Sears, Barbara
Rep. Setzer, Arlene (out of office)
Rep. Stewart, Jimmy (out of office)
Rep. Uecker, Joseph (out of office)
Rep. Wachtmann, Lynn
Sen. Wagoner, Mark Jr.
Rep. White, John (out of office)
Rep. Widener, Christopher (out of office)
Sen. Wilson, Jason
Rep. Zehringer, James
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PVS provides summaries for each version of the bill selected as a key vote. The summary does not necessarily reflect the final version of the bill. For further status information, call the Voter's Research Hotline at 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762).
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