CT SB00282

Chief executive authorities of each city and town must appoint a committee of three veteran citizens by January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to oversee care and maintenance of veterans' graves dating back to colonial military service prior to 1776.

Cities and towns must create dedicated email accounts by January 1, 2027, for complaints about veterans' grave maintenance in municipal cemeteries, while the Department of Consumer Protection must create a separate email account for complaints about privately-operated cemeteries.

The Department of Consumer Protection will administer a grant program beginning fiscal year 2028 to provide funding to municipalities for veterans' grave care and maintenance, with eligibility criteria to be developed by January 1, 2027.

Cemetery associations must file annual meeting minutes, including financial statements, with the local veterans' graves committee within 30 days of each annual meeting, and these records must be retained for at least 20 years and made available for public inspection.

Interested parties may petition probate court to compel disclosure of cemetery association meeting minutes if the association fails to file them with the local committee as required.