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SCR121.....................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
VETERANS CEMETERY - Stating findings of the Legislature; reviewing previous
commitments of the Legislature concerning the necessity of developing a
veterans cemetery in Idaho; and urging that the necessary steps be taken to
make the cemetery a reality.
01/31 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/01 Rpt prt - to 10th Ord
02/06 10th ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
Title apvd - to House
02/07 House intro - 1st rdg - to St Aff
02/27 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/28 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/06 3rd rdg - ADOPTED - voice vote - to Senate
03/07 To enrol
03/08 Rpt enrol - Pres signed
03/11 Sp signed
03/12 To Secretary of State
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2002
IN THE SENATE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 121
BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 STATING FINDINGS AND REVIEWING PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CON-
3 CERNING THE NECESSITY OF DEVELOPING A VETERANS CEMETERY IN IDAHO AND
4 URGING THAT THE NECESSARY STEPS BE TAKEN TO MAKE THE CEMETERY A REALITY.
5 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
6 WHEREAS, Idaho is the only state in the nation without a state or feder-
7 ally supported cemetery for its veterans; and
8 WHEREAS, thirty-seven states and two U.S. territories have, or are plan-
9 ning the construction of a state veterans cemetery; and
10 WHEREAS, Idaho veterans are dying at an alarming rate and deserve to be
11 laid to rest in a field of honor befitting their sacrifices; and
12 WHEREAS, the federal government shares their belief, and the Department of
13 Veterans Affairs' (VA's) State Cemetery Grants Service pays 100% of planning,
14 construction and equipment costs for the development of a state veterans ceme-
15 tery; and
16 WHEREAS, the state is obligated to provide the land and pay for ongoing
17 cemetery maintenance and operation of a state veterans cemetery; and
18 WHEREAS, Governor Dirk Kempthorne expressed support for the construction
19 of a state veterans cemetery in his State of the State Address before the Sec-
20 ond Regular Session of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature; and
21 WHEREAS, the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature
22 adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 46 expressing support for the estab-
23 lishment and perpetual maintenance and operation of an Idaho state veterans
24 cemetery; and
25 WHEREAS, the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature
26 appropriated $200,000, to be reimbursed by the VA, for cemetery design; and
27 WHEREAS, the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature
28 amended Chapter 1, Title 65, Idaho Code, by adding a new Section 65-107, Idaho
29 Code, to create a Veterans Cemetery Maintenance Fund and to provide for pur-
30 poses and administration of moneys in the fund; and
31 WHEREAS, the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature
32 amended Section 49-418, Idaho Code, to provide that a portion of the special
33 program fees for veterans motor vehicle license plates shall be deposited in
34 the Veterans Cemetery Maintenance Fund; and
35 WHEREAS, a land donor has stepped forward with a proposed donation of over
36 forty acres of property in an effort to meet the state's obligation to provide
37 the land; and
38 WHEREAS, additional land, with less slope, is necessary as an adjunct to
39 the donated property; and
40 WHEREAS, the Dry Creek Cemetery Board of Commissioners has expressed its
41 willingness to make additional land available at cost for a state veterans
42 cemetery; and
43 WHEREAS, Idaho Code does not authorize cemetery maintenance districts to
44 make government to government transfers of property.
2
1 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
2 sion of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Repre-
3 sentatives concurring therein, that we once again endorse the need for a Vet-
4 erans Cemetery in Idaho. Legislation should be adopted to facilitate the
5 exchange of property and to authorize the Division of Veterans Services to
6 accept gifts, grants, contributions and bequests, and to purchase and hold
7 title to property on behalf of the state of Idaho. The Legislature should act
8 expeditiously so that no more time passes before Idaho's veterans are given
9 the respect they are so worthy of receiving.