COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
JOINT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OF VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
2010 LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES
The following legislative objectives were adopted by the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations (the JLC) on August 12, 2009. These are the prioritized objectives of the 23 Veterans Service Organizations represented on the JLC.
1. Real Estate Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans. The JLC requests that the General Assembly enact legislation to amend the Virginia Constitution to require local governments to grant real estate tax exemptions for 100% service-connected disabled veterans without regards to means testing. Identical legislation passed the 2009 General Assembly and must also pass the 2010 General Assembly.
2. Support the Department of Veterans Services FY11-FY12 Budget. The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly:
a. Continue level funding for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP) at $2 million per year (GF); and
b. Appropriate $100,000 (GF) in FY11 to continue development of the Automated Claims Processing System for veterans disability claims; and
c. Provide the necessary resources to open and operate the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery: $40,000 (GF) in FY10, $285,000 (GF) and $15,000 (NGF) in FY11 and ongoing, and five positions.
3. Virginia War Memorial Operating Funds and FFE Funds. The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly:
a. Appropriate $910,000 (GF) in FY11 to purchase furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE) for the Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center; and
b. Appropriate $693,000 (GF) in FY11 and on-going to operate the Center.
4. Burial Vaults for Virginia State Veterans Cemeteries. The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly appropriate $36,000 (GF) in FY11 so that burial vaults may be sold at cost at Virginia state veterans cemeteries.
5. Military and Veteran Court Programs: The JLC requests that:
a. The General Assembly enact legislation that would authorize localities to establish special court programs for veterans and military personnel; and
b. An educational program be established to educate judges, attorneys, first responders, and others on the unique challenges faced by combat veterans and the treatment options available to them; and
c. A study be conducted to identify further ways of helping combat veterans who come in contact with the legal and criminal justice systems.
6. Military Family Relief Fund: The JLC requests that an administrative or legislative solution be found so that grants from the Military Family Relief Fund are not treated as taxable income.
THE 23 ORGANIZATIONS OF THE JOINT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL HAVE MORE THAN 250,000 MEMBERS.
/ Summary Developed 14 Oct 2009
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