Establishing a service animal training grant program for veterans, providing fees, and making appropriations

This bill establishes a veterans service animal training grant program under the administration of the department of veterans affairs (department) for the purpose of providing service animal training services to eligible veterans. The bill annually appropriates $100,000 from the veterans trust fund to the department to support the program. Under the program, an eligible veteran may receive one grant in the veteran’s lifetime for up to $5,000, which shall be paid directly to the accredited organization providing the service animal training services. Any moneys appropriated for the grant program that are unencumbered or unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall be distributed equally among the eligible veterans awarded a grant in that fiscal year. The department may charge a one-time fee to accredited organizations, which shall be used for reasonable administrative costs associated with the program. The department may require an organization whose accreditation has been revoked to pay a fee for reaccreditation. The bill requires the department to adopt rules for implementing and administering the program and to coordinate with veteran service organizations to conduct outreach and assist eligible veterans with applications. The bill annually appropriates $61,000 from the general fund of the state to the department for one full-time equivalent position to administer grant programs funded by the veterans trust fund.