State

In order to ease the financial hardships and personal and family sacrifice sustained by members of the North Dakota national guard, and North Dakota residents of the reserve, and active duty component who were mobilized after December 5, 1992, in support of military operations around the world it is the intent of the legislative assembly that additional compensation be provided to those resident veterans of North Dakota and payment of that compensation is declared to be a public purpose.

Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

1. "Adjutant general" means the adjutant general of North Dakota.

2. "Beneficiary" in relation to a deceased veteran, means, in the order named: a. The surviving unremarried spouse as of the date of signing the application; b. The surviving child or children and the lawful issue of a deceased child or children by representation; c. The surviving person standing in loco parentis; or d. The surviving parent or parents.

The use of armories for the regular meetings or functions of patriotic societies or recognized military service organizations holding charters from Congress or incorporated in this state must be granted by the adjutant general or by the officer in charge of any armory at such times and under such circumstances as not to interfere with the use of the armory for military purposes by the company or companies quartered therein. The use of an armory by a society or organization is subject to the rules and regulations in force governing the use of armories.

Each association shall adopt bylaws and regulations providing that in the event any member withdraws from employment in the department or ceases to be a member of the association, whether by death or otherwise, the member is entitled to a return of an amount which is not less than fifty percent nor more than one hundred percent of the member's contributions paid to the association without interest. Any benefits already received by that member must be deducted from the amount which would be returned to the member.

There is hereby created an administrative committee on veterans' affairs, which, for purposes of this chapter, must hereinafter be referred to as the committee. The committee must consist of three ex officio nonvoting members and fifteen voting members. The adjutant general, the center director of the veterans' administration, and the executive director of job service North Dakota are the ex officio nonvoting members who shall serve in an advisory capacity to the committee.

The general supervision and government of the veterans' home is vested in the administrative committee on veterans' affairs.

The veterans' postwar trust fund is a permanent trust fund of the state of North Dakota and consists of moneys transferred or credited to the fund under this chapter and other laws. Investment of the fund is the responsibility of the state treasurer who shall invest the fund only in those legal investments authorized by section 21-10-07.

The department of veterans' affairs may grant or refuse an application for relief or assistance from financial assistance programs under the control of the department under policies set by the administrative committee on veterans' affairs. The committee shall adopt and establish an appeal process. The department's decisions are appealable to an appeals committee appointed by the chairman of the administrative committee. A hearing before the appeals committee may be closed upon request of the applicant.

The purpose of the veterans' aid fund is to make loans to any veteran and to a surviving spouse of a veteran if the spouse has not remarried. A qualified applicant may be permitted to receive more than one loan providing the total amount of all loans does not exceed five thousand dollars.

In this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise provides: