HB 1021 -- VETERAN'S BONUS

SPONSOR:  Boucher

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Federal -
State Relations and Veterans Affairs by a vote of 10 to 0.

This bill requires the state to pay a $300 bonus to all
honorably discharged veterans or certain surviving family
members of veterans who served during World War II.  The
Adjutant General is responsible for administering the bonus
program.  An appeals process is established to deal with the
denial of a bonus.  The bonus is to be paid from the Veterans
Service Bonus Fund established by this bill.  Anyone knowingly
making a false statement related to the claim of a veteran's
bonus is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

FISCAL NOTE:  Cost to General Revenue of $0 to $10,696,798 in FY
2000, $0 to $21,263,486 in FY 2001, and $0 to $10,691,357 in FY
2002.  Estimated Net Effect to Veterans Bonus Service Fund of $0
in FY 2000, FY 2001, and FY 2002.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that other states paid this bonus
after the war and Missouri should also pay it.  Without the
veterans of World War II, this country would not be here and the
state has an obligation to thank these veterans.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Boucher and
Gaskill; Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars; Retired Union
Teachers and Coalition of Union Retirees; VFW Post #1000; AFL--
CIO; Clem Wittman; and UAW Missouri State CAP Council.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Steve Bauer, Legislative Analyst

HB 1021 -- Veteran's Bonus

Sponsor:  Boucher

This bill requires the state to pay a $300 bonus to all
honorably discharged veterans or certain surviving family
members of veterans who served during World War II.  The
Adjutant General is responsible for administering the bonus
program.  An appeals process is established to deal with the
denial of a bonus.  The bonus is to be paid from the Veterans
Service Bonus Fund established by this bill.  Anyone knowingly
making a false statement related to the claim of a veteran's
bonus is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.