STATEHOUSE (Feb. 25, 2019) – A bill authored by State Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) that would help support Indiana veterans recently passed the Senate unanimously.
Senate Bill 483 would require each county to set aside 5 percent of their excise tax replacement disbursement funds to be used to finance county service officers. The county service officers would serve as a resource to those who have served in the military by providing them with information on federal and state veteran benefits.
“I’m thrilled this bill received such powerful support from my colleagues in the Senate,” Alting said. “There’s no handbook for a veteran that states what they’re entitled to after their service. If they experience hearing loss years later, what can they do? If they want to go back to school, how are they going to pay for it? If they’re struggling financially, who can help them? It’s crucial each county has a designated person responsible for making sure veterans know how to access the benefits available to them, which this bill would create.”
If a community has over 2,500 veterans, this bill would also require the hiring of an additional part-time county service officer.
“I can’t tell you how many veterans I’ve guided to the veteran service officer in Tippecanoe County,” Alting said. “I believe this is a resource every Hoosier community should have, as it would greatly support our veterans.”
SB 483 will now move to the Indiana House of Representatives for consideration.
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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Alting, click here.