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Committee approves rule expanding Idaho state veterans cemetery eligibility to traditional Guardsmen and reservists
Summary
The committee approved rules expanding burial eligibility at Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries to traditional National Guard members and reservists who did not meet the federal active-duty threshold; families will cover costs equivalent to the VA plot allowance and marker fees.
The Idaho House Commerce & Human Resources Committee approved rule dockets 21-01-04-2401 and 21-01-04-2402 expanding eligibility for burial at Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries to traditional National Guard members and reservists who served honorably but did not meet the federal active-duty time requirement.
Mark Shampel, chief administrator for the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, presented the dockets and said the change restores burial eligibility for those who "didn't complete at least 180 days of active duty or more" and thus do not qualify for federal VA burial benefits. He said newly eligible individuals who wish to be buried in a state cemetery will be required to cover the burial cost equivalent to the VA plot allowance and the cost of a memorial marker: currently $978 for the plot allowance, $400 for an upright marker or $250 for other markers.
Shampel said the amendment also removes redundant language already present in Idaho Code sections 65-107 and 65-202. Committee members asked whether the rule still relies on federal Code of Federal Regulations references; Shampel said the Idaho code sections referenced in the docket point to the applicable CFRs for federal burial benefit rules and that the cemetery rule now cites the specific Idaho code sections that incorporate the relevant federal regulations.
Representative Achilles, among others, supported the change and noted that a Guardsman can serve many years without meeting the 180-day active-duty threshold; expanding eligibility will allow more service members to be buried alongside fellow veterans.
Representative Holzklaw moved to adopt the pending and final versions of the rule dockets; the committee approved both by voice vote. The rule will allow eligible traditional Guardsmen and reservists to use state veterans cemeteries provided the family covers costs identified in the rule.
