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An Act To Meet the Emergency Needs of Maine Veterans
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  necessary emergency assistance to veterans in need of funds must be provided before the end of the legislative session; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §505, sub-§1-A, ¶B,  as enacted by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. QQ, §2, is amended to read:
 
B.  The bureau may provide a grant of emergency assistance not to exceed $500$5,000 to a veteran who suffers an emergency, such as the loss of that veteran's home to fire, flood or hurricane, that is not fully compensable by insurance; illness or the illness of an immediate family member; or a similar emergency. No more than $1,000$10,000 in emergency assistance may be provided to a veteran in any 12-month period. For the purposes of this paragraph, "veteran" has the same meaning as "eligible veteran" in section 504, subsection 4, paragraph A-1.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services
 
Initiative: Provides funding for emergency assistance to veterans.

GENERAL FUND	2007-08	2008-09	
All Other	$0	$250,000	
 	  	  	
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$250,000	
 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill increases from $500 to $5,000 the amount of a grant that may be made by the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services to a veteran who suffers an emergency, such as the loss of that veteran’s home to fire, flood or hurricane, that is not fully compensable by insurance, or an illness or the illness of an immediate family member or similar emergency. It also provides an appropriation of $250,000 to fund the grants.