tdiu La - Louisiana Veterans Benefits

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State of Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs

Dependents Educational Assistance

The State Aid Program - Dependents Educational Assistance.

Section 288 of Title 29 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 has been amended and re-enacted to provide financial aid for children and surviving spouses of certain veterans of this state who died in service in the Armed Forces of the United States or died of a service connected disability incurred during a wartime period.

The law provides the same benefits for those children of living veterans who are rated 90% or above disabled, including 100% individual unemployability, by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs "Schedule for Rating Disabilities", as a result of a disability or disabilities incurred in service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

The law further requires that the deceased veteran must have been a resident of the State of Louisiana for at least twelve (12) months immediately preceding entry into service. The living veteran must have resided in the state not less than twenty-four (24) months immediately preceding the child's admission into the Program.

The surviving spouse must use this Program within ten (10) years of the date eligibility is established. A child must be between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-five (25).

The eligible person may attend any state supported college, university, trade or vocational technical school and are exempt from paying tuition and school imposed fees, such as laboratory, athletic, medical, nonresident or other special fees. Student imposed fees are not exempt. Students are eligible for four (4) years of schooling to be completed in not more than five (5) years.

Contact your local Parish Veterans Service Office for more information or to apply for the State Educational Assistance Program.

Louisiana War Veterans Homes

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs operates three War Veterans Homes. These homes, located in Monroe, Jackson, and Jennings provide nursing care. The Monroe facility consists of 156 beds. The Jackson home has a 161 bed capacity.

Admission to the Homes is limited to Louisiana war veterans. The applicant must agree to abide by all rules and regulations governing the Home. Applicants who have income will be expected to pay for their care as is set forth in the care and maintenance schedule adopted for governing the Home residents. The applicant must undergo an examination to ascertain whether he/she meets the criteria for admission to the Home.

Necessary application forms may be obtained from any of the local Parish Veterans Service Offices or at the Homes.

For more information, please visit our Veteran's Homes page or call either of these telephone numbers: (225) 634-5265 or (318) 362-4206

STATE BENEFITS - EMPLOYMENT

Military Service Relief Act

Revised Statutes 29:401-425 relative to military and veterans affairs provide for employers compensation, leave status, retirement credit, life, health and accident insurance coverage, re-employment rights upon release from military service, prohibits against academic penalties, deferral of state income taxes, validation of professional and occupational licenses, and protection of any vacancy in office held by an Elected or Appointed Official, for citizens of Louisiana called to military service in the reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States. The district court in which the state or its political subdivision exercises authority or conducts its business shall have jurisdiction to hear action to enforce the Act.

Veterans Civil Service Preference (Employment Preference)

Article X, of the Louisiana Constitution provides a five-point preference in original appointments to persons honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States who served between the following dates of wartime service:

April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918

September 27, 1940, through July 25, 1947

June 25 1950, through January 31, 1955

July 1, 1958, through May 7, 1975

August 2, 1990, through, date to be determined

(must have been awarded the Southwest Asia Medal)

Or in a peacetime campaign or expedition if a campaign badge or expeditionary medal is authorized.

Ten points preference in original appointments are accorded each honorable discharged veteran who served in either war or peacetime and has one or more service connected disabilities established with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans preference also extends to layoffs over other employees of equal lengths of service and efficiency ratings.

STATE BENEFITS - EDUCATION

National Guard Tuition

The Adjutant General of Louisiana is responsible for the overall policies, guidance, administration, and proper utilization of this program.

For more information, write to:

Louisiana National Guard

Director of Personnel Administration

Military Development Section

Jackson Barracks

New Orleans, Louisiana 70146.

STATE BENEFITS - HUNTING/FISHING

Free Hunting/Fishing Licenses

Act 417 amends and re-enacts Subsection F of Section 104 and Subsection C of Section 333 of Title 56 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 to provide disabled veterans classified with a service connected permanent disability, rated 50% or higher and who are Louisiana residents, to be issued licenses to fish and hunt free of charge. The law further provides for free license books, returns, transfer of license and also licenses for scientific or experimental purposes.

The law further provides that persons in the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty, to be given resident privileges. Applications may be obtained and certified by contacting the local Parish Veterans Service Office.

STATE BENEFITS - STATE PARKS

Free Entrance to state parks

Act 172 of the 1977 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature provides that any Louisiana resident who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and who has suffered the amputation of a limb or who at any time has been awarded an allowance toward the purchase of an automobile by the U.S. Government or any Louisiana resident who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who, as the result of a service connected disability, has been classified as 50% or more permanently disabled or permanent and total as a result of non-service connected disabilities shall be exempt from paying the day use entrance fee to any Louisiana state park.

Applications for this exemption may be obtained by contacting the local Parish Veterans Service Office..

STATE BENEFITS - LICENSE PLATES

Free "Purple Heart" License Plates

Revised Statute 47:463.26 provides for the issuance of a Free License Plate for recipients of the "Purple Heart" medal to be used in lieu of the regular motor vehicle registration plates. The recipient may be issued only one plate and such plate shall not be subject to renewal requirements applicable to regular numbered plates. A written request submitted with proof of receiving the Purple Heart should be sent to the Department of Public Safety. The surviving spouse may retain this plate in the event of the recipients death.

VEHICLE REGISTRATION BUREAU

P.O. BOX 64886, BATON ROUGE, LA 70896

Motor Vehicle - Disabled Veterans - Special License Plates, Exemptions

Subsection B of Section 463 of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended and re-enacted by Act 263, Section 1 of the Louisiana Legislature, provides for any amputee or blind veteran of World War II or of service on or after June 27, 1950, who is a Louisiana citizen and who received financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the purchase of an automobile under provisions of Public Law 663 of the 79th Congress as amended, or under Public Law 187 of the 82nd Congress to be exempt from payment of any motor vehicle registration or license tax on such automobile thus received and is also exempt from payment of such tax on each subsequent automobile purchased by him as replacement, so long as it is determined by evidence from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that his disability (disabilities) still meet(s) the requirements which were met originally in establishing his eligibility to an automobile. Fifty percent or more service connected disabled veterans are eligible for the free license plate.

The plates now issued are red, white, and blue in color with the letters "DV" followed by an appropriate number. The license plate is non-transferable to any other individual, but may be transferred from one vehicle to another owned by the veteran, provided the Louisiana Department of Public Safety is furnished the appropriate information concerning the other vehicle. Only one (1) plate may be issued to each eligible veteran. The plates are not subject to renewal requirements by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, and they are issued upon application to any disabled veteran in lieu of the regular motor vehicle registration license plates.

Act Number 150 of the 1986, Louisiana Legislature provides the holders of these plates be accorded the same privileges as holders of special license plates for handicapped persons.

FREE "X-POW" LICENSE PLATES

Act 121 of the Louisiana Legislature amends Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 to provide for the issuance of special license plates to those veterans who were former Prisoners-of-Wars during a Wartime period as defined by R.S. 29:251.2.

The plates are issued without charge and contain the designation of "X-POW" followed by an appropriate number.

The plates are not subject to renewal requirements by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, and they are issued upon application to any former Prisoner-of-War in lieu of the regular motor vehicle registration license plates. The application must be accompanied by appropriate verification of the veteran's status as a former Prisoner-of-War.

The plates are permanent and may be transferred from one vehicle to another, provided the Louisiana Department of Public Safety is furnished the necessary information on the other vehicle. More than one plate may be issued to each eligible veteran. This plate may be retained and used by the surviving spouse in the event of the death of the X-POW (Act 824, 1985 Regular Session).

Applications for the above mentioned benefits may be obtained at your local Parish Veterans Service Office.

Special Prestigious License Plates for Certain Veterans and Retirees

The Louisiana Legislature has authorized the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue prestige license plates to certain Louisiana veterans and retired (military) veterans. These plates will be issued for use on any privately-owned passenger car, pickup truck, or van of the veteran applicant. The cost of these plates are the same as the regular issue. Contact the Office of Motor Vehicles to obtain a detailed list of these prestige plates and the requirements for issuance thereof.

STATE BENEFITS - MISCELLANEOUS

Veterans Education and Training - State Approving Agency

Congress passed the legislation for Chapter 36 of Title 38 U.S.C. 38. The State Approving Agency's mission is to conduct inspection/approval, supervision and provide technical assistance to those programs of education pursued by veterans and other eligible persons receiving educational benefits under Title 38, U.S. Code and Title 10, U.S. Code Chapter 1606. The goals are to ensure that all programs of education, job training, and flight schools are available to veterans and other eligible persons.

Recording of Discharges

Section 132, Title 44 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 provides for, upon presentation of the Discharge Certificate or other evidence, the register of Conveyances shall record in his records, without charge, each Discharge Certificate or other evidence of honorable separation from the Armed Forces of the United States of men and women who have served in these Forces.

Documents Required by Veterans Administration

Act 768 of the 1987 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature amended and re-enacted Section 263, Title 29 of the Revised Statutes of 1950 to provide that any state official charged with the custody of any document required by the Veterans Administration to determine eligibility of any benefits will furnish a certified copy of such document to the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs at request without any charge whatsoever.

Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Directory

Act 746 of the Regular 1995 Session of the Legislature changed the Family of Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Registry to the Agent Orange Directory. This Act charged the Department of Veterans Affairs, in cooperation with the Veterans Affairs Commission and the state military department, with the responsibility to establish, maintain and promote a public information program on chemical herbicides, defoliants and other causative agents used in the Vietnam conflict.

The Department maintains a central depository containing information on the health effects of exposure and the results of the latest research on the effects. This information is made available to veterans and family members upon request.