Section 27-135 - Assistance provided by municipalities re veterans services and benefits(a) As used in this section, "veteran" has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 27-103 and "chief executive officer" means the officer described in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 7-193.(b) Prior to October 1, 2023:(1) Any city or town, either separately or with one or more other cities and towns, may, by ordinance, establish a local veterans' advisory committee which shall have the responsibility of carrying out locally the duties and purposes of this subsection and, within their charter powers and as otherwise provided by law, may make available to such local committees the necessary funds to carry out their duties and responsibilities. The committee may (A) act as the coordinating agency in all matters concerning veterans and their dependents, coordinating the activities of public and private facilities concerned with veterans' reemployment, education, rehabilitation and adjustment to peacetime living; (B) cooperate with all national, state and local governmental and private agencies in securing services and benefits to which a veteran or his dependents may be entitled; (C) use the services and facilities of the veterans organizations so far as possible to carry out the purposes of this subsection; and (D) encourage and coordinate vocational training services for veterans.(2)(A) Any city or town that has not established its own local veterans' advisory committee separate from one or more other cities or towns pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and does not otherwise provide funding for a veterans' service officer shall designate (i) a city or town employee, or (ii) a volunteer who is a resident of such city or town, and (I) is a veteran, or (II) has practical experience handling veterans' issues, to serve as a municipal veterans representative in such city or town. The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall annually send to the chief executive officer of any such city or town an electronic notification of such chief executive officer's duty to so designate a city or town employee or volunteer in accordance with this subdivision. Such chief executive officer shall, not later than thirty days after receipt of such notification, submit to the Office of Advocacy and Assistance, as described in subsection (b) of section 27-102l, the name and electronic mail address of the city or town employee or volunteer so designated.(B) Each municipal veterans representative shall carry out the duties described in subdivision (1) of this subsection and shall complete a training course conducted by the Office of Advocacy and Assistance, as described in subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 27-102l, or attend a training session conducted by the manager of said office, as described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of said section. Each municipal veterans representative designated on or after October 1, 2019, but prior to October 1, 2023, shall complete such training course not later than one year after the date of such designation. Upon completion of such training course, a municipal veterans representative may thereafter receive electronically any new or updated training information from the Office of Advocacy and Assistance and shall not be required to complete any other such training course.(C) Any volunteer designated as a municipal veterans representative by a city or town pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subsection shall (i) be available to veterans in person, by telephone or by electronic mail for any minimum number of hours per week that the city or town designating the volunteer may establish, and (ii) file a performance report each month with the city or town designating the volunteer that includes, but is not limited to, the names of veterans assisted, services or referrals provided and any other information as determined by the city or town.(c) On and after October 1, 2023:(1)(A) Each municipality shall, for the purposes of carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this subsection: (i) Establish, by ordinance, a municipal veterans advisory committee. Such ordinance shall set forth the number of members of such committee, the method of the members' selection, the members' terms of office and the manner of filling any vacancy. The municipality may make available to such committee the necessary funds to carry out such duties and responsibilities;(ii) Appoint a director of municipal veterans services, who shall be a veteran or have practical experience handling veterans' issues and shall be compensated by such municipality; or(iii) Appoint one or more municipal veterans representatives, each of whom shall be a veteran or have practical experience handling veterans' issues and shall be a current municipal employee or volunteer.(B)(i) Two or more municipalities may jointly carry out the duties and responsibilities under this subsection, provided such municipalities shall enter into a memorandum of agreement or understanding for such purpose, which memorandum may include terms concerning sharing of expenses.(ii) Any municipality that, prior to October 1, 2023, enacted an ordinance establishing a committee, appointed a director or designated a representative pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall have satisfied the requirement under this subdivision.(2)(A) Each municipal veterans advisory committee, director of municipal veterans services or municipal veterans representative, as applicable, shall (i) assist veterans and veterans' dependents in accessing services and benefits to which such veterans or dependents may be entitled; (ii) assist in coordinating the activities of public and private facilities concerned with veterans' reemployment, education, rehabilitation and adjustment to peacetime living; (iii) cooperate with all national, state and local governmental and private providers in connecting veterans and veterans' dependents with services and benefits to which such veterans or dependents may be entitled; (iv) encourage and coordinate vocational training services for veterans; and (v) coordinate with veterans organizations, as practicable, to carry out the purposes of this subsection.(B) A member of such committee designated by such committee, or such director or representative, as applicable, shall (i) be available to veterans in person, by telephone or by electronic mail for a minimum number of days or hours per week, as determined by the municipality; (ii) file with the municipality each month a report that includes, but is not limited to, the names of veterans and veterans' dependents who were provided assistance, the services or referrals that were provided and any other information required by the municipality; and (iii) not later than one year after such member's, director's or representative's designation or appointment, as applicable, complete a veterans benefits and programs training course conducted pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 27-102l by the Office of Advocacy and Assistance within the Department of Veterans Affairs, except that any such member, director or representative who completed such training course pursuant to subsection (b) of this section prior to October 1, 2023, shall have satisfied the requirement under this clause. After completion of such training course, such member, director or representative may thereafter receive electronically any new or updated training information from said office and shall not be required to complete any other such training course.(3) The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall annually notify each municipality's chief executive officer of the requirement under subdivision (1) of this subsection. Not later than thirty days after receipt of such notification, the chief executive officer shall provide to the Office of Advocacy and Assistance the name and electronic mail address of each member of the municipal veterans advisory committee, the director of municipal veterans services or each municipal veterans representative, as applicable.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 27-135
(1949, S. 1647d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 78; P.A. 13-34 , S. 2 ; P.A. 14-56 , S. 2 ; P.A. 16-68 , S. 3 ; 16-192 , S. 2 ; P.A. 17-36 , S. 3 .)
Amended by P.A. 23-0034, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2023.Amended by P.A. 19-0148, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2019.Amended by P.A. 17-0036, S. 3 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2017.Amended by P.A. 16-0192, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2016.Amended by P.A. 16-0068, S. 3 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2016.Amended by P.A. 14-0056, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2014 Regular Session, eff. 5/23/2014.