An ACT to amend and reenact sections 37-14-03.3, 37-14-06, 37-14-07, 37-14-14, and 37-25-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the veterans' aid fund, to the time for application for Vietnam Veterans' adjusted compensation, and to the veterans' postwar trust fund; to provide a transfer from the Vietnam veterans' adjusted compensation funds; and to provide an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE 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. Such sum of three seven hundred thousand dollars shall be a permanent revolving fund of the veterans' aid fund and shall not revert to the general fund and shall be used solely for the purpose of making loans to any veteran of the armed forces of the United States who served in World War II, the Korean conflict, or during hostilities in Vietnam, as defined by section 37-01-40.
SECTION 2. 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 such applicant has served as a member of the armed forces of the United States for an aggregate time of not less than thirty days during World War II, the Korean conflict, or during hostilities in Vietnam, all as defined by section 37-01-40, that he is a citizen and resident of the state of North Dakota, and that he has not been dishonorably discharged, the department may loan to such applicant, or a guardian of such applicant, a sum from the veterans' aid fund not to exceed the sum of five-hundred two thousand dollars.
SECTION 3. 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 such an application and at the time of such disbursement, the applicant, or his legally appointed guardian, shall be required to execute an agreement with the department of veterans' affairs that within a period of two years from the date of the receipt of the last item of such advancement her will repay to the state of North Dakota for the use of the veterans' aid fund the full amount of all advancements made to him without interest with interest as provided in rules and regulations adopted pursuant to section 37-14-10, but not to exceed ten percent annually. One-half of the interest shall be waived if timely repayment is made to the fund. The department shall have the authority to take necessary legal action to collect loans if in the opinion of the department the veteran has the financial means to repay, and he deliberately refuses to do so.
SECTION 4. AMENDMENT. Section 37-14-14 of the North Dakota Century Code is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
37-14-14. VETERANS' POSTWAR REHABILITATION RESERVE TRUST FUND. The veterans' postwar rehabilitation reserve trust fund shall consist of the moneys transferred or credited thereto to the fund, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and of other laws. The fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in legal investments authorize by section 21-10-07. All income received on the investments is to be utilized in benefit and service to veterans as defined in section 37-01-40, or their dependents, as determined and appropriated by the legislative assembly.
SECTION 5. AMENDMENT. Section 37-25-10 of the North Dakota Century Code is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
37-25-10. TIME LIMIT FOR RECEIVING APPLICATIONS. No application for benefits under the provisions of this chapter shall be received after December 31, 1979 June 30, 1982. However, in the cases of those veterans who were prisoners of war or missing in action, the deadline for receipt of an application shall be four years from the date upon which they first set foot on American soil or December 31, 1979 June 30, 1982, whichever is later.
SECTION 6. TRANSFER OF VIETNAM BONUS FUNDS TO VETERANS' POSTWAR TRUST FUND. All unobligated moneys in the Vietnam veterans' adjusted compensation funds in the state treasury after July 1, 1981, shall be transferred by the state treasurer to the veterans' postwar trust fund. Any obligations of such funds as a result of any amendment of section 37-25-10 by the forty-seventh legislative assembly shall be paid out of the veterans' postwar trust fund and the moneys necessary to meet those obligations are hereby appropriated.
SECTION 7. APPROPRIATION. There is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the Vietnam Veterans' adjusted compensation fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $400,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to the veterans' aid fund, for the purpose of increasing the permanent revolving fund as provided for in this Act.