| 2010 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES |
The Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Services Organizations (JLC) met 12 August 2009 to determine the agenda for legislative objectives for 2010. Priority was established in October 2009 for the six legislative objectives which are listed in priority order below. A one-page summary is included in the document library on this web page as well as a position paper on each individual objective .
1. Real Estate Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans: This is a continuation of last year’s effort which will need to be passed identically by the General Assembly after this fall’s election of the House of Delegates as required by the Virginia constitution. JLC sponsor: Disabled American Vets.
2. Department of Veterans Service Budget. For Fiscal Year 2011 and 2012, continue funding for Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, Appropriate $100K for automated processing of veterans disability claims, and provide resources to open and operate the SW Virginia Veterans Cemetery. VCOC MOAA agreed to work with other Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) as the JLC sponsor for this.
3. Virginia War Memorial Operating and FFE Funds. To fund the necessary furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE) and a higher operating budget after the Galanti Education Center is completed. JLC sponsor: American Legion.
4. Burial Vaults for Virginia State Veterans Cemeteries: Because this effort failed last year due to state budget shortfall, the goal was amended to authorize the Department of Veterans Services to do a bulk buy of burial vaults and then sell them to veterans’ families at cost. This will save veterans’ families $400 - $800. $36,000 is needed to purchase the special equipment needed to place the burial vaults for the initial vault purchase. JLC sponsor: Veterans of Foreign Wars.
5. Military & Veterans Court Programs: VCOC MOAA, at their Oct 2009 meeting, recommended changes to this objective, to also focus on educational programs for judges, attorneys, first responders and others on the unique challenges faced by combat veterans and treatment options available to them. JLC Sponsor Virginia MOWW.
6. Military Family Relief Fund Nontaxable: Find an administrative or legislative solution so grants from MFRF are not treated as taxable income. This is a continuation of the bill which was tabled in the 2009 House of Delegates due to a rule to not hear any bill proposing any tax relief whatsoever. This year we will be looking for a patron in the Senate. JLC sponsor: Virginia National Guard Association.
/ VCOC MOAA Legislative Chair in 2008-2009 is COL Sam Wilder, USA, Ret, VCOC 1st VP
/ VCOC MOAA Legislative Chair in 2010-2011 is Col Don Kaiserman, USA, Ret.
Don is also the VCOC 1st VP 2010-2011 and was VCOC Guard & Reserve Liaison in 2008-2009
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ONE POWERFUL VOICE
in Virginia
YOUR OWN OBJECTIVES?
If you pursue other or conflicting objectives individually with your legislators, please do not use the MOAA name in doing so. We put much work into presenting a united front with the 23 organizations of the JLC. See "Guiding Principles" accessible on the JLC page (of this state legislative section) of VCOC website.
DO NOT ENDORCE.
Never endorce a particular political party nor candidate for office in the name of MOAA nor your chapter. It's the issues and support of veterans that we advocate for, not a particular party nor person.
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Previous year State Legislative Priorities are included below.
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| 2009 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES |
The following legislative objectives for 2009 were adopted by the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations (the JLC) on August 13, 2008 and prioritized by the JLC Dec 18, 2008. These are the top six legislative objectives of the 23 Veterans Service Organizations represented on the JLC, which include the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) with 16 chapters in Virginia, all affiliated with the Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC) MOAA.
1. Automated System for the Electronic Preparation of Veterans Disability Claims: The JLC recommends that the Governor and General Assembly direct that "subject to the availability of sufficient funds, the Department of Veterans Services shall develop and deploy an automated system for the electronic preparation of veterans? disability claims." HB1732(Cox)
2. Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children: The JLC recommends that the Governor and General Assembly enact "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children." HB1727 (Cole)
3. Burial Vaults for Virginia State Veterans Cemeteries: The JLC recommends that the Governor and General Assembly appropriate funds so that burial vaults may be provided at no cost at Virginia state veterans cemeteries.
4. Military Family Relief Fund: The JLC recommends that the Governor and General Assembly enact legislation such that benefits paid from the Military Family Relief Fund shall be non taxable. HB2414 (Bouchard), HB2512 (Mrsden).
5. Real Estate Tax Relief for 100% Disabled Veterans: The JLC recommends that Governor and General Assembly pass legislation to amend the Virginia Constitution that would require local governments to grant real estate tax exemptions for 100% disabled veterans without regard to means testing. HJ648 (O'Bannon); SJ304 (Stuart)
6. Homeless Veterans Study: The JLC recommends that the Governor and General Assembly fund a study to examine the current level of services provided to homeless veterans in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the need for and cost of additional services. HJ727 (Bouchard)
Updated Priorities 20 DEC 2008
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SPEAKING WITH
ONE
POWERFUL VOICE
2009 Legislative Priority Objectives
The list of objectives, on JLC Letterhead, is in the Word Document accessible below - and summarized at left. Below are the issue papers (Word Documents) with more info on each objective.
VCOC Legislative Chair is 1st Vice President: COL Sam Wilder, USA, Ret sdwilder1@comcast.net
Each Virginia Chapter of MOAA has appointed legislative representative(s) to work with the VCOC on legislative issues.
SCROLL DOWN FOR
DOWNLOADABLE DOCUMENTS:
PRIORITIES LIST,
STATUS MATRIX,
BUDGET SUCCESS,
NEWS RELEASE,
& ISSUE PAPERS.
This is just one page of the VCOC website's STATE LEGISLATIVE SECTION. Point your curser at "State Legislative" on the menu and view the other pages available, including info on the annual VCOC Day at the General Assembly - affectionately known as "Storming the State Capitol." Or, Use this link: http://www.virginiamoaa.com/statelegislative/stormrichmond2009.html YOUR OWN OBJECTIVES? If you pursue other or conflicting objectives individually with your legislators, please do not use the MOAA name in doing so. We put much work into presenting a united front with the 23 organizations of the JLC. See "Guiding Principles" accessible on the JLC page of this website.
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| POSITION PAPERS - 2009 Priority Objectives (State) |
| 2008 VCOC STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES |
1. Fully fund the Department of Veterans Services Budget and Strategic Plan as outlined in Executive Order 19: The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly provide the Department of Veterans Services with the resources required to accomplish the specific recommended objectives (e.g. Turbo-vet, additional personnel, etc.).
2. Support the Virginia National Guard: The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly approve the requested biennial budget and legislative initiatives of the Virginia National Guard without decrement, despite any shortfall in anticipated state revenue, and that the General Assembly pass legislation to protect the custodial rights of mobilized service members.
3. Wounded Warrior Mental Health Care: The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly establish a state wide program to provide our Virginia resident Wounded Warriors and their families with first class treatment for mental health/PTSD/TBI injuries, and that the Governor and General Assembly also provide competent oversight of a program to efficiently utilize federal/state/private funding for these initiatives. HB 475, patroned by Delegate Kirk Cox, requires establishment of a program to monitor and coordinate mental health and rehabilitative services support for Virginia veterans and members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service. Another Bill, HB477, improves the Veteran Services Foundation and specifically provides for private fund raising in support of Wounded Warriors. The JLC and VCOC believe that Federal, state and private funding is necessary to fully support Wounded Warriors.
4. Virginia War Memorial Education Wing: The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly release the $3.5 million appropriated by the 2007 General Assembly for the construction of the Virginia War Memorial Education Wing, and that the Governor and General Assembly appropriate an additional $2 million in General Funds for the construction of the Virginia War Memorial Education Wing.
5. Tax relief for 100% disabled veterans: The JLC requests that Governor and General Assembly pass legislation to amend the Virginia Constitution that would require local governments to grant real estate tax exemptions for 100% disabled veterans without regard to means testing.
6. Provide Tax Relief for Virginia Citizen Soldiers called to Active Duty: The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly provide an income tax exemption to Virginia citizens who serve in the National Guard or Reserve and who are activated into full-time service outside the Continental United States in excess of 90 days.
7. Permit Virginia Resident Service Members to place a “Freeze: on their Credit Files: The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly provide the authority for Virginia domiciled service members and their spouses to prevent either the unauthorized release of credit information or the creation of unauthorized credit accounts. This is a major help to prevent identity theft.
Position Papers are available on this VCOC website, Legislative - State section.
S1 through S7
The Summary Page also gives the latest bill info on the seven state priorities.
| CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED SUMMARY PAGE OF JLC OBJECTIVES 2008. Word Document, emailed from VCOC Legislative Chair COL Wilder Jan 2008 |
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| WORD DOCUMENT LISTING 2008 STATE LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES, VCOC WITH JLC. CLICK HERE. |
| 2007 VCOC STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES |
1. Support the Virginia National Guard and Reserves.
2. Fully Fund Department of Veterans Services.
3. In-State Tuition for Active & Reserve Service Members stationed in Virginia.
4. Fund Virginia War Memorial Education Wing.
5. Clarify Veterans "Preference" in Hiring Practices
6. Curb Pay Day Lending Practices.
7. State Tax Exemption Virginia Residents of Armed Forces Deployed Overseas
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Click Here for Word Document with More Info about 2007 State Legislative Objectives |
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