CHAPTER 162

(HB 1031)

Veteran's grave markers and headstones, allowable expense increased.

         FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to  increase the maximum allowable expense for erecting certain veteran's grave markers and headstones.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:

     Section 1.  That § 33-19-5 be amended to read as follows:

     33-19-5.   If a headstone is provided by the United States government for the purpose of marking the grave of a veteran who had been a resident of South Dakota for one year preceding entrance into military service or preceding death or if a memorial headstone or marker is provided by the United States government to commemorate any member of the armed forces of the United States dying in the service, whose remains have not been recovered or identified or were buried at sea, the veterans' service officer or field officer shall cause the headstone or memorial headstone or marker to be erected. The expense of erecting such the headstone or memorial headstone or marker shall be paid by the state and may not exceed forty one hundred dollars. No payment for such the expense is allowed unless a claim is filed or presented to the Division of Veterans Affairs within one year subsequent to the date such the headstone or memorial headstone or marker is erected.

     Signed March 9, 2009

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