An ACT to amend and reenact sections 37-14-03.3, 37-14-04, 37-14-05, 37-14-06, and 37-14-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the veterans; aid fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. Amendment. Section 37-14-03.3 of the North Dakota Century Code is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
37-14-03.3 Revolving fund. The sum of seven hundred thousand dollars is a permanent revolving fund of the veterans' aid fund and may not revert to the general fund and must be solely used for the purpose of making loans to any veterans as defined by section 37-01-40 and to a surviving spouse of a veteran if the spouse has not remarried. This section does not prohibit the department of veterans' affairs, in its discretion, from using any interest the fund accrues or has already earned or accrued to collect loans if in the opinion of the department a person has the financial means to repay, and that person deliberately refuses to do so.
Section 2. Amendment. Section 37-14-04 of the North Dakota Century Code is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
37-14-04. Veterans' aid fund - Purpose. The purpose of the veterans' aid fund is to make loans or advancements to any veteran as defined by section 37-01-40 and to a surviving spouse of a veteran if the spouse has not remarried. A qualified applicant may be permitted to make more than one loan providing the applicant has satisfied payment requirements of a previous loan.
Section 3. Amendment. Section 37-14-05 of the North Dakota Century Code is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
37-14-05. Application for aid. A qualified person may apply to the department of the veterans' affairs in such form as it provides, wither while the applicant is waiting for relief or assistance from another agency, state or federal, or for further assistance for the applicant's education, or otherwise.
Section 4. Amendment. Section 37-14-06 of the North Dakota Century Code is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
37-14-06. Department may provide aid. If the department of veterans' affairs is satisfied that an applicant is a veterans, as defined by section 37-01-40, or the surviving spouse of a veteran and has not remarried, and that the applicant is a citizen and resident of this state, the department may loan to the applicant, or a guardian of the applicant, a sum from the veterans' aid fund not to exceed two thousand dollars.
Section 5. Amendment. Section 37-14-07 of the North Dakota Century Code is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
37-14-07. Repayment to be made to aid fund. Upon the granting of an application and at the time of disbursement, the applicant, or the applicant's legally appointed guardian, shall execute an agreement with the department of veterans' affairs that within a specified period of not to exceed four years from the date of the receipt of the last item of the advancement, the applicant will repay to the state for the use of the veterans' aid fund the full amount of all advancements made to the applicant with interest as provided in rules adopted under section 37-14-10, but not to exceed ten percent annually. One-half of the interest must be waived if timely repayment is made to the fund. The department may take necessary legal action to collect, compromise, or settle loans if in the opinion of the department the person has the financial means to repay, and the person deliberately refuses to do so. The department may release from financial liability any person it determines is financially unable to repay the loan through no fault of the person.