AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 37-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of a burial medallion program for veterans.
Summary
HB 1293 creates a new burial medallion program within chapter 37-18 of the North Dakota Century Code. The bill directs the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to establish and administer a program to provide a medallion—a small, durable marker attached to an existing headstone or grave marker—to indicate veteran status.
The program is limited to National Guard and National Guard Reserve members who are not buried in a state veterans’ cemetery and who do not qualify for another medallion from the state or federal Department of Veterans Affairs. In effect, the bill fills a gap for certain veterans and service members who otherwise would not have access to an official burial marker recognizing their service.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to chapter 37-18 and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs by authorizing it to create and run a burial medallion program. It affects veterans’ burial recognition policies and provides a new state-level benefit for eligible National Guard and National Guard Reserve members, particularly those buried outside state veterans’ cemeteries and ineligible for existing state or federal medallions.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House 92-0 and the Senate 46-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The lack of recorded committee opposition or transcript discussion suggests the measure was viewed as a straightforward veterans’ benefit.
Contention
No notable contention is reflected in the available record. The only substantive policy limitation is eligibility: the program is targeted to National Guard and National Guard Reserve members who are not buried in a state veterans’ cemetery and who do not already qualify for another medallion. That narrow scope appears designed to avoid overlap with existing state and federal programs rather than to create a disputed benefit.
AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 37-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of a burial medallion program for veterans.
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