§ 1544. State pay for military service

(a) Each enlisted individual in the U.S. Armed Forces subsequent to August 5, 1964 and not later than March 31, 1973 who resided in the State of Vermont at the time of the individual’s enlistment or induction into the U.S. Armed Forces shall be entitled to receive from the State, in addition to the pay received from the federal government, the sum of $10.00 for each month not exceeding a total of 12 months served in such forces. Payment may be made upon honorable discharge from service, or upon death in service, or upon honorable separation from active federal service, and in the case of the death of the enlisted individual after discharge and prior to the receipt of payment, it shall be paid to the individual’s spouse or, if there is no spouse living, to the next of kin who are lineal heirs.

(b) In case any enlisted individual dies while in service, the individual’s spouse or, if there is no spouse living, the next of kin who are lineal heirs shall be entitled to receive from the State the sum of $120.00, except that if any claim is made under this section by a claimant other than a spouse or issue of the deceased, the claim shall not be paid for a period of nine months after the decease of the enlisted individual, and payment made by the State after the nine-month period shall be in and constitute full compliance with this section.

(c) No person shall receive compensation from the State of Vermont under this section if the individual enlisted with the U.S. Armed Forces for a period of six months or less for the sole purpose of training.

(d) No person shall receive compensation from the State of Vermont for any service performed subsequent to the end of the Vietnam era as set forth in 38 U.S.C. § 101, May 7, 1975. (Added 1969, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 24, 1970; amended 1973, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. Feb. 22, 1974; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 378, eff. July 1, 2022.)