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An Act To Update the Powers and Duties of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §503, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2001, c. 662, §61, is further amended to read:
 
3. Agent.   The director shall act, upon request, as the agent of any Maine resident who has a legitimate claim against the United States for any benefit accruing as a result of any federal or state military service and, in cooperation with all public and private agencies, shall prosecute the claim without charge. The director may enter into an agreement with a health care provider to exchange information about a patient of the health care provider that allows the director to provide assistance in obtaining any relevant benefits accruing to that patient as a result of federal or state military service.
Sec. 2.  37-B MRSA §504, sub-§4, ¶G  is enacted to read:
 
G.  The interment of an eligible veteran or eligible dependent is permanent and final except that the director may allow disinterment as long as there is no cost to the State.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to enter into an agreement with a health care provider to exchange information about a patient of the health care provider and provide assistance in obtaining benefits accruing to that patient as a result of federal or state military service. This bill also specifies that interment of a veteran or a dependent of a veteran in the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System is permanent but gives the director the discretion to allow disinterment as long as there is no cost to the State.