HOUSE BILL 411

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Patricia Roybal Caballero

AN ACT

RELATING TO VETERANS' SERVICES; CREATING THE INDIGENT VETERANS BURIAL FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Veterans' Services Department Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] INDIGENT VETERANS BURIAL FUND--PURPOSE--ADMINISTRATION.--The "indigent veterans burial fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations and gifts, grants and donations. The department shall administer the indigent veterans burial fund, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to reimburse counties for the net costs of burial or cremation and the opening and closing of graves of indigent veterans, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 24-13-3 and 24-13-4 NMSA 1978. Money in the fund shall be disbursed on warrants signed by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of veterans' services or the secretary of veterans' services' authorized representative. The department shall report annually to the legislative finance committee on indigent veterans burial fund income and expenditures."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the indigent veterans burial fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2014 to reimburse counties that have incurred burial-related expenses of indigent veterans on or after the effective date of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2014 shall revert to the general fund.

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