What changed in HF 259

16 passages reworded, 6 added and 20 removed; 27 of 69 unchanged.

Removed AddedIntroduced textText as passedAmendments

Compares wording only. The printed bills also mark changes to existing law with strikes and underlines, which aren’t shown here.

Section 1. Section 35.1, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

2. “Veteran” means a resident of this state who is any of the following:

a. A veteran as defined in 38 C.F.R. §3.1, as amended.

b. A former member of the reserve forces of the United States who served at least twenty years in the reserve forces and who was discharged under honorable conditions. However, a member of the reserve forces of the United States who completed a minimum aggregate of ninety days of federal active duty, other than training, and was discharged under honorable conditions, or was retired under Tit. 10 of the United States Code shall be included as a veteran.

c. A former member of the Iowa national guard who served at least twenty years in the Iowa national guard and who was discharged under honorable conditions. However, a member of the Iowa national guard who was activated for federal duty, other than training, for a minimum aggregate of ninety days, and was discharged under honorable conditions or was retired under Tit. 10 of the United States Code shall be included as a veteran.

d. A member of the reserve forces of the United States who has served at least twenty years in the reserve forces and who continues to serve in the reserve forces.

e. A member of the Iowa national guard who has served at least twenty years in the Iowa national guard and who continues to serve in the Iowa national guard.

Section 1. Section 35.1, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:

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NEW PARAGRAPH.

2. Section 35.2, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows: In order to fulfill any eligibility requirements under Iowa law pertaining to veteran status, a veteran described in section 35.1, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (6) or (7) “d” or “e”, shall submit the veteran’s retirement points accounting statement issued by the armed forces of the United States, the state adjutant general, or the adjutant general of any other state, to confirm that the person has completed twenty years of service with the reserve forces or the national guard.

d. A resident of this state who served in any component of the armed forces of the United States, who is in receipt of service-connected disability from the United States department of veterans affairs, and who was discharged under honorable conditions.

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3. 2. Section 35A.3, subsection 7, Code 2023, 2024, is amended by striking the subsection.

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4. 3. Section 35A.5, subsection 6, Code 2023, 2024, is amended to read as follows:

6.

(d) Reimbursing county commission of veteran affairs executive directors, administrators, and commissioners for transportation costs related to a conference, program, or both.

(e) Verifying a person’s qualifications pursuant to section 35A.5, subsection 9.

(2) All funds received by the department for the purposes established in subparagraph (1) shall be deposited in the county commission of veteran affairs training program account established in section 35A.16, subsection 4.

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5. 4. Section 35A.5, subsection 9, Code 2023, 2024, is amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

9. Verify each executive director, administrator, director and commissioner administrator of a county commission of veteran affairs is fully qualified to work in the person’s position. Qualifications shall include but are not be limited to all of the following:

a. The person has obtained certification that is federally required for the member, executive director, director’s or administrator’s position within twelve months of beginning the person’s employment.

b. The person has obtained a personal identification verification card necessary to access the veterans benefits management system within twelve months of beginning the person’s employment.

c. The person maintains certification that is federally required for the member, executive director, director’s or administrator’s position.

d. The person maintains an active personal identification verification card and has access to the veterans benefits management system.

e. For executive directors and administrators, the The person is proficient in the use of electronic mail, general computer use, and use of the internet to access information regarding facilities, benefits, and services available to veterans and their families.

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6. 5. Section 35A.13, subsection 3, Code 2023, 2024, is amended to read as follows:

3. Moneys credited to the trust fund shall not be transferred, used, obligated, appropriated, or otherwise encumbered, except as provided in this section. Moneys in the trust fund may also be used for cemetery grant development purposes provided that any moneys so allocated, except for moneys used for department of administrative services expenditures related to the grant, are returned to the trust fund upon receipt of federal funds received for such purposes.

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7. 6. Section 35A.16, subsection 3, paragraph a, Code 2023, 2024, is amended to read as follows:

a. If sufficient moneys are available, the department shall annually allocate ten thousand dollars to each county commission of veteran affairs, or to each county sharing the services of an executive director or administrator pursuant to chapter 28E, to be used to provide services to veterans pursuant to section 35B.6 and provide for and maintain accreditation in accordance with the policies and procedures of the United States department of veterans affairs. Each county receiving an allocation shall annually report on expenditure of the allocation in a form agreed to by the department and county representatives.

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8. 7. Section 35A.16, subsection 4, Code 2023, 2024, is amended to read as follows:

4. A county commission of veteran affairs training program account shall be established within the county commissions of veteran affairs fund. Any moneys remaining in the fund after the allocations under subsection 3 shall be credited to the account and used by the department to fund the county commission of veteran affairs training program under section 35A.17 35A.5, subsection 6, and training for department personnel.

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9. 8. Section 35B.3, Code 2023, 2024, is amended to read as follows: 35B.3 County commission of veteran affairs. The county commission of veteran affairs shall consist of either three or five persons, as determined by the board of supervisors, all of whom shall be veterans as defined in section 35.1. If possible, each member of the commission shall be a veteran of a different military action branch. However, this qualification does not preclude membership to a veteran who served in more than one branch of the military actions.

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10. 9. Section 35B.6, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 2023, 2024, is amended to read as follows:

c.

(1) Upon the employment of an executive director or administrator, the executive director or administrator shall complete a course of for the purpose of obtaining certification training provided by the department of veterans affairs pursuant to section 35A.5 federally required for the person’s position and a personal identification verification card necessary to access the veterans benefits management system. If an executive director or administrator fails to obtain certification or a personal identification verification card within one year of being employed, the executive director or administrator shall be removed from office. The department shall issue the executive director or administrator a certificate of training after completion of the certification training course. To maintain certification, the (2) An executive director or administrator shall satisfy the continuing education requirements established by the national association of Upon a request from a county veterans service officers commission of veteran affairs and based on extenuating circumstances, the United States commandant of the Iowa department of veterans affairs. Failure of affairs may extend the time frame for an executive director or administrator to maintain certification shall be cause for removal from office. The expenses of training the executive director or administrator shall be paid from the appropriation authorized in section 35B.14. obtain a personal identification verification card.

(2) An executive director or administrator shall satisfy the continuing education requirements established by the national association of county veterans service officers and the United States department of veterans affairs. Failure of an executive director or administrator to maintain certification shall be cause for removal from office. The expenses of training the executive director or administrator shall be paid from the appropriation authorized in section 35B.14.

(3) An executive director or administrator shall satisfy the continuing education requirements necessary to maintain an active personal identification verification card and access to the veterans benefits management system. Failure of an executive director or administrator to maintain certification and access to the veterans benefits management system shall be cause for removal from office.

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11. 10. Section 35B.14, subsection 4, Code 2023, 2024, is amended to read as follows:

4. Burial expenses shall be paid by the county in which the person died resided. If the person is a resident of a different county at the time of death, the county of residence shall reimburse the county where the person died for the cost of burial. In either case, the The county board of supervisors of the respective counties shall audit and pay the account from the funds provided for in this chapter in the manner as other claims are audited and paid.

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12. Section 426A.12, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows: 426A.12 Exemptions to relatives.

1. In case any person in the foregoing classifications does not claim the exemption from taxation, it shall be allowed in the name of the person to the same extent on the property of any one of the following persons in the order named:

a. The spouse, or surviving spouse remaining unmarried, of a veteran, as defined in this chapter or in section 35.1, subsection 2, paragraph “a” or “b”, where they are living together or were living together at the time of the death of the veteran.

b. The parent whose spouse is deceased and who remains unmarried, of a veteran, as defined in this chapter or in section 35.1, subsection 2, paragraph “a” or “b”, whether living or deceased, where the parent is, or was at the time of death of the veteran, dependent on the veteran for support.

c. The minor child, or children owning property as tenants in common, of a deceased veteran, as defined in this chapter or in section 35.1, subsection 2, paragraph “a” or “b”.

2. No more than one tax exemption shall be allowed under this section or section 426A.11 in the name of a veteran, as defined in this chapter or in section 35.1, subsection 2, paragraph “a” or “b”.

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13. Section 426A.13, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2023, are amended to read as follows:

1. A person named in section 426A.11, who is a resident of and domiciled in the state of Iowa, shall receive a reduction equal to the exemption, to be made from any property owned by the person or owned by a family farm corporation of which the person is a shareholder and occupant of the property and so designated by proceeding as provided in this section. To be eligible to receive the exemption, the person claiming it shall have recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county in which is located the property designated for the exemption, evidence of property ownership by that person or the family farm corporation of which the person is a shareholder and the military certificate of satisfactory service, order transferring to inactive status, reserve, retirement, order of separation from service, honorable discharge or a copy of any of these documents of the person claiming or through whom is claimed the exemption. In the case of a person claiming the exemption as a veteran described in section 35.1, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (6) or (7) “d” or “e”, the person shall file the statement required by section 35.2.

2. The person shall file with the appropriate assessor on forms obtained from the assessor the claim for exemption for the year for which the person is first claiming the exemption. The claim shall be filed not later than July 1 of the year for which the person is claiming the exemption. The claim shall set out the fact that the person is a resident of and domiciled in the state of Iowa, and a person within the terms of section 426A.11, and shall give the volume and page on which the certificate of satisfactory service, order of separation, retirement, furlough to reserve, inactive status, or honorable discharge or certified copy thereof is recorded in the office of the county recorder, and may include the designation of the property from which the exemption is to be made, and shall further state that the claimant is the equitable or legal owner of the property designated or if the property is owned by a family farm corporation, that the person is a shareholder of that corporation and that the person occupies the property. In the case of a person claiming the exemption as a veteran described in section 35.1, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (6) or (7) “d” or “e”, the person shall file the statement required by section 35.2.

11. REPEAL. Sections 35A.17 and 35B.17, Code 2024, are repealed.

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14. REPEAL. Sections 35A.17 and 35B.17, Code 2023, are repealed.

12. TRANSITION. A person employed in the position of a county veteran service officer on the effective date of this Act must obtain a personal identification verification card under section 35A.5, subsection 9, as amended by this Act, within one year of the effective date of this Act or be removed from office.