§ 4-3-2505 — Honor Guard grant program - Appropriation of funds - Allocation of funds - Section definitions

(a) The department of veterans services shall establish and administer an honor guard grant program. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to veteran service organizations registered with the secretary of state to offset expenses incurred by the organization and members of the organization's honor guard in providing honor guard burial details at the funerals of qualifying Tennessee veterans, including expenses for training, transportation, food, equipment, and supplies. (b) The grant fund is subject to appropriations by the general assembly and gifts, grants, and other donations received by the department for the grant fund. It is the legislative intent that the amount of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) be appropriated in fiscal year 2023-2024 in the general appropriations act for awarding grants from the fund. (c) Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall allocate and disperse grants each fiscal year to nonprofit veteran service organizations. The commissioner of veterans services is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate the purposes of this section in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, codified in title 4, chapter 5. (d) For purposes of this section: (1) "Veteran" means a decedent who is eligible to receive a military funeral honors ceremony pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, Public Law 106-65; and (2) "Veteran service organization" means an association, corporation, or other entity that aids and serves veterans, servicemembers, and dependents, and that is a § 501(c)(19) organization that is exempt from taxation under § 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, codified in 26 U.S.C. § 501(a) , a federally chartered veterans' service corporation, or a veterans' affairs office or agency established by state law.

Legislative History

Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 404, s 1, eff. 1/1/2024.