BILLS AFFECTING VETERANS AND ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS THAT PASSED THE 2012 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

I wanted to be sure that all of our Veterans and active Service Members are aware of the bills that have made it through the recent General Assembly session:

Starting in January 2013 people who have served in the Military will be able to have that designation on their Maryland Drivers License or State ID. This will help when there are miltary or veteran discounts to easily prove one's status. When you are renewing your driver's license you need to bring proof of military status to the MVA to get this designation. This bill has been signed by the Governor and is now law.

The Governor has also signed a bill that expands eligibility for the Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship to a surviving spouse of a specified disabled veteran. It is unclear at this time whether the funding is in place for this scholarship and other state scholarships because the General Assembly has not passed certain funding measures. It is expected there will be a special session soon to do so.

A bill that forms a Task Force on Veterans, Military Service Members and the Courts has passed and awaits the Governor’s signature. This panel will study service related mental health issues and substance abuse. It will also make recommendations by December 2013 on the possible establishment of a special Veterans court to handle the criminal cases of those who’ve served in the military. 

A bill has passed that allows service organizations to be exempt from the Sales and Use tax. This bill awaits the Governor’s signature. 

The makeup of the Veterans Commission members will change under a bill that passed which is awaiting the Governor’s signature. It will require that a veteran from the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts serve on the Commission. It removes a voting member from the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and adds an honorary nonvoting member of that Association to the panel.