Kaine signs bills to assist Va. military families, veterans

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine yesterday ceremonially signed more than a dozen bills designed to assist Virginia's military families and veterans.

Legislation passed during the 2009 General Assembly session provides uniform treatment and expedited record-sharing in education for military children who transfer between school districts and states. Virginia has the most school-age children -- 76,352 -- of active military personnel in the nation.

In commemoration of "American Veterans and Veteran's Support Associations Week" in the state, Kaine also signed bills that:

• provide tuition assistance to members of the National Guard with two or more years remaining on their service requirement;

• allow servicemen and other residents of Virginia living overseas to request an absentee ballot by e-mail;

• increase the threshold on the Homestead Exemption, a tax deduction for homes, from $2,000 to $10,000 for veterans who are at least 40 percent disabled;

• require health insurers, subscription plans and health maintenance organizations operating in the state to offer coverage for medically necessary prosthetic devices; and

• authorize special license plates for veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The state has 156,000 active-duty military personnel, in addition to 26,000 reservists and 10,000 members of the Virginia National Guard, according to the governor's office. There are also 807,000 veterans in the state -- one of every 10 Virginians.

"These bills take important steps toward improving the lives of those who are currently serving our country, and honoring those who have served in the past," said Kaine, flanked by high-ranking military officials and state lawmakers in a packed room of the Patrick Henry Building on Capitol Square in Richmond.

Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or .