[Title]

Committee: Military and Veterans Affairs

Complete to 5-20-14

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5529-5535 AS INTRODUCED 5-6-14

The bills would amend various acts to add special provisions that would allow for the identification of veterans in order to make them aware of available veterans benefits.

Under the Revised Judicature Act, in order to continue to participate in and successfully complete a drug treatment court program, an individual needs to comply with certain requirements. House Bill 5529 would amend the act (MCL 600.1074) to say that if an individual were a veteran, he or she would need to meet with a member of a veteran service organization or county veteran counselor to discuss available benefit programs for which he or she may qualify.

House Bill 5531 would also amend the Revised Judicature Act by adding Section 1085 to specify that in addition to any other terms and conditions set by the DWI/sobriety court judge, in order to successfully complete a DWI/sobriety court program, a program participant who is a veteran would be required to meet with a member of a veteran service organization or a county veteran counselor to discuss available veterans benefit programs.

House Bill 5530 would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require that a presentencing report for a person charged with a felony contain a statement as to whether the person is determined to be a veteran. If so, the Department of Corrections would forward that information to the Department of Military Affairs together with information about the earliest date of release, if applicable. (This would also apply to those charged with misdemeanors in some cases, including individuals who were licensed or registered under the Public Health Code.)

House Bill 5533 would also amend the Code of Criminal Procedure. It would require as a condition of probation that a probationer who is a veteran meet with a member of a veterans service organization or a county veteran counselor program regarding available veterans benefit programs.

House Bill 5532 would amend the Corrections Code of 1953 (MCL 791.236) to require the parole order issued for a prisoner who is a veteran to contain a condition requiring the prisoner to meet with a member of a veteran service organization or a county veteran counselor regarding available benefit programs.

House Bill 5534 would amend the Social Welfare Act (MCL 400.57 et al.) to require the Department of Human Services to ask each applicant at the time of an initial application for assistance and redetermination for assistance under this act if he or she is a veteran. If the applicant is a veteran, the department would be required to forward that information to the Department of Military and Veterans affairs.

House Bill 5535 would also amend the Social Welfare Act by adding Section 10g to require the department ask if the applicant is a veteran at the time of an initial application and at the time of redetermination for food assistance. If the individual is a veteran, the Department would need to forward the information to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

By veteran, generally speaking, the bills refer to veterans of a veteran of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, including their reserve components, or the National or Air National Guard of this state or another state

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bills 5529-5533 would have no fiscal impact on the state’s judicial system or on local courts, or on state or local correctional systems.

Legislative Analyst: E. Best

Fiscal Analyst: Robin Risko

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.