LIST OF VSOs FOR RETURNING VETS S.B. 754: FIRST ANALYSIS


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Senate Bill 754 (as reported without amendment) (as passed by the Senate)
Sponsor: Senator Roger Kahn, M.D.
Committee: Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs


Date Completed: 10-18-07

RATIONALE


The Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) routinely sends a welcome-home letter to Michigan's returning veterans. The DLEG letter directs veterans to a website that provides them with information about pursuing work or education, starting a business, and securing veterans benefits. It has been suggested that the letter also should inform veterans about State-funded veterans service organizations (VSOs) in order to promote veterans' involvement with those organizations.

CONTENT
The bill would create the "Veterans Welcome Home Act" to require DLEG to include a list of all State-funded VSOs in the welcome-home letter that it sends to returning veterans. The list would have to be ordered by the amount of State funding, with the VSO that received the most State funding listed first and the remaining organizations listed in descending order.

BACKGROUND


The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs provides grants to 12 veterans service organizations within the State. Though not required by statutory law, the State has a long history of providing discretionary General Fund support to VSOs. Veterans service organizations that receive State funding are nonprofit organizations whose purpose is to assist and obtain benefits for veterans in Michigan, primarily benefits offered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. To be eligible for funding, a VSO must be chartered by the United States Congress, be an active participating member of the Michigan Veterans Organizations' Rehabilitation and Veterans Service Committee, and meet other criteria set forth in the annual appropriation act.


In fiscal year 2006-07, a total of $3,912,300 was appropriated to the 12 VSOs, as shown below.


American Legion $886,000
Veterans of Foreign Wars $886,000
Disabled American Veterans $732,400
American Veterans of World War II and Korea $464,800
Marine Corps League $336,300
Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America $165,700
Vietnam Veterans of America $159,500
Military Order of the Purple Heart $157,900
Catholic War Veterans $41,200
Jewish Veterans of America $41,200
Polish Legion of American Veterans $41,200
Veterans of World War I $100
ARGUMENTS (Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)

Supporting Argument By requiring that DLEG provide returning veterans with a list of VSOs, the bill would help to ensure that veterans received the services provided by the State-funded organizations. Informing veterans about the VSOs would give the veterans another tool that could assist them in returning to everyday civilian life, as the organizations
can be helpful in securing veteran benefits in areas such as education, employment, business development, and health care.


Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.


Fiscal Analyst: Elizabeth Pratt
Maria Tyszkiewicz

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb754/0708