Burials of indigent veterans-amendments.

Under current law, there are two (2) programs that may provide financial assistance for burial expenses for indigent veterans. One (1) program administered by the Wyoming Department of Family Services provides financial assistance for burial expenses to persons who were receiving assistance from the Personal Opportunities with Employment Responsibilities (POWER) Program, Supplemental Security Income, or Medicaid. The other program reimburses counties for preparing or transporting persons for burial in the veteran's cemetery.

This act removes the eligibility requirement that indigent veterans must have served on behalf of the United States in any war or conflict, as defined by federal law, in order to qualify for county reimbursement for burial preparation and transportation. This act increases the amount paid for burial expenses under the Wyoming Department of Family Services' program from one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) to one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) and authorizes an additional five hundred dollars ($500.00) to be paid for transportation expenses for an indigent veteran who qualifies both for the Wyoming Department of Family Services' program and for burial in the veteran's cemetery. This act specifies that payment of burial expenses made by the Board of County Commissioners is considered the payment of last resort that follows all other sources.