Legislation helping Hoosier veterans signed into law
Multiple pieces of legislation supporting Hoosier veterans were signed into law this week by Gov. Mike Pence. As chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety, it is encouraging to see 13 bills that passed through my committee made it through the legislative process and will now benefit our veterans.
I helped craft many of these measures, including House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1089. Under this enrolled act, the Indiana Veterans’ Affairs Commission will submit an annual report to the governor and legislative council on matters regarding the welfare of Hoosier veterans.
Also under HEA 1089, a study committee will be created to look into appointing six veteran service officers around the state. If appointed, these six district veteran service officers would be placed throughout the state in order to better serve our veterans. These officers would help facilitate the needs of our service members who deserve the best care possible. The state would be divided into six districts with one veteran service officer being assigned to each district. These officers would provide helpful resources to our veterans and their families.
Another act signed into law that I co-authored, HEA 1359, allows veterans to apply to become police officers and firefighters after they finish their careers in the military.
Before this newly enacted policy, the maximum hiring age in Indiana for firefighters and police officers just entering the profession was 36 years old. This new law raises the maximum hiring age from 36 to 40 and a half years old. This legislation still tasks veterans with meeting certain requirements, such as physical agility tests and aptitude tests, in order to be eligible for positions. A major driver of this bill was the fact that many retiring service members become firefighters and police officers. If they enlisted at the lowest age possible, which is 18 years old, then qualify for retirement after 20 years of service, they would be 38 years old, which was past the maximum hiring age in the state.
All other veterans that were honorably discharged before the 20 year mark will still have to abide by the cutoff age of 36.
A piece of legislation that I sponsored, Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 189, keeps information regarding the attendance records and academic progress of adult high school students in the military and children in military families confidential. This law ensures that Hoosier students’ privacy is protected.
A measure I co-sponsored, SEA 145, honors veterans who have died without surviving family members by allowing funeral directors to turn over unclaimed cremated remains to verified veterans’ service organizations who will work to place the remains in a state or national cemetery. The new law allows funeral directors to release information regarding the fallen soldier while ensuring veterans receive proper, dignified burials.
This new law also requires the Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs to establish standards for the approval of veterans’ service organizations while maintaining and publishing an updated list of approved organizations on the department’s website www.in.gov/dva/.
All of these new laws will take effect on July 1, 2016. I welcome your questions and input, contact me at (317) 234-3827 or email h67@iga.in.gov.
-30-
Rep. Frye (R-Greensburg) represents Ohio and Switzerland counties, as well as portions of Ripley, Decatur, Jennings, Jefferson and Dearborn counties.
