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An Act To Provide Veterans and Gold Star Families Free Admission to the Maine State Museum
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 27 MRSA §83, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2013, c. 595, Pt. M, §1, is further amended to read:
 
5. Establish fees.   To establish fees for admission to the Maine State Museum and miscellaneous services. All revenues derived from these fees must be credited as undedicated revenue to the General Fund through June 30, 2014. Beginning July 1, 2014, all revenues derived from these fees must be credited as dedicated revenue to the Maine State Museum - Operating Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account to be used to support the operations of the Maine State Museum. Notwithstanding this subsection, the commission shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management for the issuance of a free admission pass to the Maine State Museum to each person who is determined by the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to meet the criteria established in Title 37-B, section 8-A; and
Sec. 2.  37-B MRSA §8-A  is enacted to read:
§ 8-A. Issuance of free admission pass to Maine State Museum to veterans and gold star families
The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, in accordance with a memorandum of agreement entered into with the Maine State Museum Commission under Title 27, section 83, subsection 5 and this section, shall issue a free admission pass to the Maine State Museum to eligible persons pursuant to subsection 1.
 
1.  Eligibility.     The department shall determine a person's eligibility for a pass under this section by establishing that the following criteria are met:
 
A.  If the person is a veteran:
 
(1) The person is a resident of this State; and
 
(2) The person received an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions; or
 
B.  If the person is a member of a gold star family:
 
(1) The person is a resident of this State; and
 
(2) The person is eligible to possess:
 
(a) A gold star lapel button pursuant to 10 United States Code, Section 1126 or 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 578.63; or
 
(b) A lapel button for next of kin of deceased personnel pursuant to 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 578.63.
 
2.  Responsibilities of commissioner.     The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management shall identify a point of contact within the department to issue free admission passes in accordance with this section and the memorandum of agreement entered into with the Maine State Museum Commission pursuant to Title 27, section 83, subsection 5. The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management shall periodically report to the Maine State Museum Commission a list of the names and addresses of all persons receiving passes to the Maine State Museum and the beginning dates for those passes. A pass issued under this section does not expire and is valid for the lifetime of the holder.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides for free admission to the Maine State Museum for veterans and persons who are eligible to possess gold star lapel buttons or lapel buttons for next of kin of deceased military personnel.