Chief Patron: Governor Kaine
Validity Study Authorized for Veterans Cemeteries (language only)

Item 82 #1g

Language
Page 66, after line 4, insert:
"The Commissioner, Department of Veterans Services, shall commission a study, not to exceed $50,000 in cost, to examine the need for and cost of additional veterans cemeteries in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The scope of the study shall encompass Virginia’s state-owned veterans cemeteries, and national veterans cemeteries that currently exist in or may be constructed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The study shall (i) examine the current services provided by either state and national veterans cemeteries in the Commonwealth of Virginia; (ii) identify situations where the cemetery needs of Virginia’s veterans are not presently met by a state or national veterans cemetery; (iii) recommend how Virginia and the federal government can improve the cemetery services provided to Virginia’s veterans and identify the related costs or such services; and (iv) recommend whether Virginia should acquire property for additional veterans cemeteries and identify the related costs of additional cemeteries. The Commissioner shall report the results of the study to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees no later than November 1, 2006."

Explanation
(This amendment authorizes implementation of a study to determine Virginia's needs for new cemeteries for veterans. The study will review current services provided by state and national veterans cemeteries in Virginia, identify needs that are not presently met, recommend how to improve the cemetery services, identify the related costs and methods of acquiring, and recommend whether Virginia should acquire additional property.)