Counseling, voting bills to benefit military

Military service members and their families will soon have access to a new counseling program for help with reintegration into civilian and family life after deployment.

The bill to benefit families of veterans, HB407, was one of at least six bills impacting the military that was passed by the 2006 Legislature, which ended Wednesday, and await the governor's signature. At least 11 more pieces of military-related legislation failed.

One of the bills passed, HB67, provides active military members and overseas voters the ability to electronically register, obtain an absentee ballot and vote.

Another bill, HB232, affords in-state college tuition rates to military personnel and their immediate families if they had residency status prior to active duty. The benefit is void if they established residency in another state for tax purposes.

A third bill, HB401, appropriates $50,000 in ongoing money for an outreach program administered by the Division of Veterans' Affairs.

Retired Col. Frank Maughan, 2005 state commander of the Utah Disabled American Veterans, called the funding a cut because in recent years lawmakers approved $100,000 in annual one-time monies for Veterans' Affairs.

But in fiscal years 2007 and 2008, veterans will get at least $210,000 a year through the Utah Department of Human Services for counseling and assistance at a reduced cost. According to HB407, the state will seek input from the Utah National Guard on the content of the counseling program.

Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, expressed appreciation for the efforts of legislators to help the approximately 6,500 members of Utah's Air and Army National Guard — between 900 and 1,000 Guard members are currently deployed.

"Passage of these important bills," Tarbet said, "will enable Utah National Guard members, families and veterans to enjoy increased benefits as they give great sacrifice to support the defense of the homeland and overseas war fight."

Two other bills that passed authorized bonding for $4.5 million to build a veterans home in Ogden and modified the application process for veterans who apply for property tax exemptions.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com