Senate Bill 2139

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A MISSISSIPPI VETERANS CEMETERY, WHICH SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE "MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY"; TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR INTERMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CEMETERY SHALL BE UNDER THE CONTROL AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD TO RECEIVE FEDERAL AID AND ANY GIFTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, BEQUESTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A VETERANS CEMETERY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The State Veterans Affairs Board is authorized to establish, operate and maintain a Mississippi veterans cemetery in this state, which shall be known as the "Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery."

(2) The State Veterans Affairs Board has the primary responsibility for verifying eligibility for interment in the veterans cemetery. Eligibility criteria for interment in the cemetery is the same as required for interment in a national cemetery as provided by federal law and rules and regulations applicable thereto. However, to be eligible for interment a veteran must have been a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for two (2) years immediately prior to his death.

(3) The cemetery shall be under the control and administration of the State Veterans Affairs Board.

(4) Applications for interment in the cemetery shall be processed in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the State Veterans Affairs Board.

(5) The State Veterans Affairs Board is designated as the agency of this state to receive federal aid under Title 38 USC, as amended, and is authorized to receive funds from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or any other agency of the United States authorized to grant or expend funds to assist a state in establishing, operating and maintaining a veterans cemetery. The board is authorized to receive gifts, contributions, bequests and individual reimbursements from any source, the receipt of which shall not exclude any other source of revenue. All funds received by the board pursuant to this subsection shall be expended to establish, operate and maintain a veterans cemetery in this state. The State Veterans Affairs Board is authorized to employ such personnel as it may deem necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities under this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.