(a) As used in this section, (1) “department” means the Military Department, (2) “fund” means the Military Relief Fund established in accordance with this section, (3) “eligible member of the armed forces” and “eligible member” means a member of the armed forces, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, including the Connecticut National Guard, who is domiciled in this state, (4) “immediate family member” means an eligible member's spouse, child or parent who is domiciled in this state, or any other member of an eligible member's family who lives in the same household as the eligible member, and (5) “essential personal or household goods or services” includes, but is not limited to, repairs, medical services that are not covered by insurance, transportation, babysitting, clothing, school supplies or any other goods or services that are essential to the well-being of an eligible member or eligible member's immediate family.
(b) There is established, within the General Fund, a separate, nonlapsing account to be known as the “Military Relief Fund”. The account shall contain (1) any amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by the state for the purposes of this section, (2) any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account, and (3) gifts, grants, donations or bequests made for the purposes of this section. Investment earnings credited to the assets of the fund shall become part of the assets of the fund. Any balance remaining in the account at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the account for the fiscal year next succeeding. The State Treasurer shall administer the fund. All moneys deposited in the account shall be used by the Military Department for the purposes of this section. The Military Department may deduct and retain from the moneys in the account an amount equal to the costs incurred by the department in administering the provisions of this section, except that said amount shall not exceed two per cent of the moneys deposited in the account in any fiscal year.
(c) The Military Department shall use the Military Relief Fund to make grants to eligible members of the armed forces or their immediate family members for essential personal or household goods or services in this state if the payment for such goods or services would be a hardship for such eligible member or family member because of the military service of the eligible member. The department shall not make any grant that exceeds five thousand dollars or the balance available for grants in the fund.
(d) The department shall establish an application process that is simple for eligible members and their immediate family members. The department shall act on each application no later than seven days after the date on which the completed application is submitted to the department.
(e) The department shall adopt regulations implementing the provisions of this section, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, and may implement the policies and procedures contained in such proposed regulations while in the process of adopting such proposed regulations, provided the department publishes notice of intention to adopt the regulations in the Connecticut Law Journal no later than twenty days after implementing such policies and procedures. Policies and procedures implemented pursuant to this subsection shall be valid until the earlier of the date on which such regulations are effective or one year after the publication of such notice of intention.
(f) On or before February fifteenth of each calendar year, the department shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to veterans' and military affairs, in accordance with section 11-4a, that contains the following information for the preceding calendar year: (1) The number of applications received, (2) the number of eligible members who received grants under this section and whose immediate family members received grants under this section, (3) the amount in grants made to each such eligible member and to the immediate family of each such eligible member, (4) the uses for such grants, and (5) any recommendations regarding the Military Relief Fund, including any proposed legislation to facilitate the purposes of this section. Such reports shall not identify the name of any eligible member or of any immediate family member. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of section 1-210, all information obtained by the Military Department that contains the name or address of, or other information that could be used to identify, an eligible member or an immediate family member shall be confidential.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 10; P.A. 09-163, S. 1; P.A. 13-107, S. 1.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3 effective June 30, 2005; P.A. 09-163 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to redefine “eligible member of the armed forces” and “eligible member”, effective June 30, 2009; P.A. 13-107 changed “Military Family Relief Fund” to “Military Relief Fund”, added provisions making member of armed forces eligible for grants, amended Subsec. (c) to add provision re maximum grant of $5,000, amended Subsec. (e) to replace provision re discretionary process to adopt regulations with provision requiring department to adopt regulations, amended Subsec. (f) to change report date from on or before the 15th day following the close of each calendar quarter to on or before February 15 of each calendar year, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2013.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 27 - Armed Forces and Veterans
Section 27-1. - Persons subject to military duty.
Section 27-2. - Classes of militia.
Section 27-2a. - Militia and National Guard deemed law enforcement agencies for certain purposes.
Section 27-3. - National Guard; naval militia. Equipment. Location.
Section 27-4. - Inactive National Guard.
Section 27-5. - Naval militia.
Section 27-6. - Organization of first and second companies of Governor's Foot Guards.
Section 27-6a. - Organization of first and second companies of Governor's Foot Guards.
Section 27-7. - Organization of first and second companies of Governor's Horse Guards.
Section 27-8. - Governor's Guards to be organized militia.
Section 27-9. - Connecticut State Guard.
Section 27-10. - Active service of the Connecticut State Guard: Officers.
Section 27-11. - Inactive service. Discharge.
Section 27-12. - Strength of military forces.
Section 27-13. - Recognition and regulation of units of unorganized militia.
Section 27-14. - Governor to be commander-in-chief.
Section 27-15. - Governor's military staff.
Section 27-16. - Authority of Governor. Service outside state.
Section 27-17. - Armed forces may be called in case of riot.
Section 27-18. - Calling out troops without Governor's order.
Section 27-19. - Military Department. Adjutant General. Appointment and qualifications.
Section 27-19c. - Chargeable transient quarters and billeting account.
Section 27-19d. - Governor's Guards account.
Section 27-19e. - Governor's Guards horse account.
Section 27-20. - Duties of Adjutant General.
Section 27-21. - Supply of arms and equipment.
Section 27-22. - Coordination of military and naval services.
Section 27-23. - Exercise of powers relating to naval militia.
Section 27-25. - Property and procurement officer.
Section 27-26. - Commander of naval militia.
Section 27-27. - Commander's staff.
Section 27-28. - Surgeon General.
Section 27-29. - Post surgeons.
Section 27-30. - United States property and disbursing officer.
Section 27-32. - Audit of office and accounts.
Section 27-33. - Leave from employment to attend drills, parades and encampments.
Section 27-33a. - Leave from employment to perform military duty.
Section 27-34. - National Guard. Contingency provisions in event of federal withdrawal.
Section 27-35. - Use of rifle ranges on Sunday.
Section 27-36. - Use of rifle ranges by civilian organizations.
Section 27-37. - Interstate compacts for mutual military aid.
Section 27-38. - Form of compact.
Section 27-38f. - New England Disaster Training Center activity account.
Section 27-39a. - Camp Nett at Niantic and Camp Hartell named.
Section 27-40. - Space in armories for use of naval militia.
Section 27-41. - Accountability for military property.
Section 27-42. - Loss and misuse of military property.
Section 27-43. - Injury and destruction of military property.
Section 27-44. - Improper receipt of military property.
Section 27-45. - Purchase and construction of armories.
Section 27-46. - Federal grants for armories and military facilities.
Section 27-46a. - Use of proceeds from sale of armories.
Section 27-46b. - Transfer of proceeds from sale of armories.
Section 27-47. - Allowance for uniforms and equipment.
Section 27-49. - Appointment of commissioned officers.
Section 27-50. - Rank of members of naval militia.
Section 27-51. - Staff officers: Military training required; term of service.
Section 27-52. - Discharge of commissioned officers.
Section 27-53. - Retirement of members. Retirement promotions.
Section 27-54. - Status of retired members.
Section 27-55. - Period of enlistment and qualifications.
Section 27-56. - Enlistment in the Governor's Guards.
Section 27-57. - Discharge of enlisted persons.
Section 27-58. - Dismissal of members of Governor's Guards.
Section 27-59. - Discrimination prohibited.
Section 27-60. - Limited liability and immunity from arrest.
Section 27-61. - Definitions. Pay and allowances.
Section 27-61a. - Additional pay for active service on or after September 11, 2001.
Section 27-62. - Allowance to officers of military units for office and clerical expenses.
Section 27-63. - Allowance to officers of organized militia for custody of property.
Section 27-65. - Aid or compensation for military or naval organizations.
Section 27-66. - Appropriations for special services of the militia.
Section 27-67. - Compensation under Workers' Compensation Act.
Section 27-67a. - Disability incident to state service prior to June 6, 1977.
Section 27-68. - Payments for injuries.
Section 27-70. - Reimbursement for damages caused by armed forces personnel.
Section 27-71. - Long service medals.
Section 27-72. - Medal of valor.
Section 27-73. - Medal of merit.
Section 27-73a. - Emergency service awards.
Section 27-73b. - Outstanding unit awards.
Section 27-73c. - Selected reserve force awards.
Section 27-73d. - Service ribbons for military operations after September 11, 2001.
Section 27-73f. - Achievement ribbons.
Section 27-73g. - Medal of achievement.
Section 27-73h. - Military recruitment ribbon.
Section 27-73i. - Civilian medal of merit.
Section 27-73j. - Ribbons and medals for members of the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units.
Section 27-73k. - Military funeral honors ribbon.
Section 27-74. - Service emblem of State Guard.
Section 27-75. - Memorials to veterans and military service.
Section 27-77. - Disposition of battle flags.
Section 27-78. - Standards of State Guard.
Section 27-80. - “Dependent” and “separation allowance” defined.
Section 27-81. - Separation allowance provided.
Section 27-82. - Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to administer separation allowances.
Section 27-83. - Amount of separation allowances.
Section 27-84. - List of dependents to be filed.
Section 27-85. - When allowances are not to be paid.
Section 27-86. - Funds to pay allowances; State Treasurer authorized to borrow.
Section 27-87 to 27-100. - Discipline.
Section 27-100a. - Military Relief Fund. Regulations. Annual report.
Section 27-100b. - Volunteer service program. Report.
Section 27-100c. - Contact list for service members and veterans.
Section 27-100d. - Toll-free telephone number for referrals for benefits and services.