Bill Text: CT SB00314 | 2012 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning Issues Affecting The Veterans' Community.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-04-10 - File Number 334 [SB00314 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2012-SB00314-Comm_Sub.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 314
February Session, 2012		LCO No. 1637
		*_____SB00314PH____032312____*
Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Introduced by:
(VA)

AN ACT CONCERNING ISSUES AFFECTING THE VETERANS' COMMUNITY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 27-140aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

As used in this part:

(1) "Agent orange" means the herbicide composed of 2,4,5-trichlorphenoxyacetic acid and 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid;

[(2) "Commission" means the Vietnam Herbicides Information Commission established under this part;]

[(3)] (2) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Health;

[(4)] (3) "Department" means the Department of Public Health;

[(5)] (4) "Veteran" means a person who (A) was a resident of the state at the time of his induction into the armed forces of the United States or is currently a resident of the state and (B) served during the Vietnam era, as defined in section 27-103; and

[(6)] (5) "Vietnam herbicide" means any herbicide, defoliant, or other causative agent, including, but not limited to, agent orange, used in the Vietnam conflict.

Sec. 2. Section 27-140ee of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) A physician who has primary responsibility for treating a veteran who believes he may have been exposed to Vietnam herbicides while serving in the armed forces of the United States, shall, at the request of the veteran, submit a report to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. If there is no physician having primary responsibility for treating the veteran, the hospital treating the veteran shall, at the request of the veteran, submit the report to the [commission] Department of Veterans' Affairs. Any report of a physician or hospital shall include: (1) Any symptoms of exposure to a Vietnam herbicide; (2) diagnosis of the veteran; and (3) methods of treatment prescribed.

(b) The identity of a veteran about whom a report has been made under this section may not be disclosed unless the veteran consents to the disclosure. Any statistical information collected under this part shall be public information.

(c) Any physician or hospital subject to this section who complies with the provisions of this section may not be held civilly or criminally liable for providing the information required by this section.

Sec. 3. Sections 27-140bb and 27-140cc of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective from passage)

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	from passage	27-140aa
Sec. 2	from passage	27-140ee
Sec. 3	from passage	Repealer section

VA	Joint Favorable C/R	PH
PH	Joint Favorable