12 LC 21 1582S

The House Committee on Defense and Veterans Affairs offers the following substitute to HB 535:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to war veterans homes, so as to authorize the Veterans Service Board to establish a fee for residency in a facility of the Georgia State War Veterans' Home; to provide for a waiver of fees based on economic need; to provide for rules and regulations; to authorize the acceptance of certain assignment of benefits; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to war veterans homes, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"38-4-56.

(a) The Veterans Service Board is authorized to provide by rule and regulation for a reasonable fee for residency in and services provided by a facility of the Georgia State War Veterans' Home. The board is authorized to provide by rule and regulation for a full or partial waiver of such fees based on economic need. Such fee waiver shall be established on a sliding scale based on established criteria, including, without limitation, consideration of assets, income, and other resources.

(b) The Department of Veterans Service is authorized to receive, as full or partial payment of any fees charged by a facility of the Georgia State War Veterans' Home, the assignment of any state or federal benefit including, without limitation, aid and attendance benefits paid by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.