(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Congressionally chartered veterans service organization" means an organization that aids and serves veterans and service members and their dependents and survivors, has been granted a charter by the United States congress through the enactment of a public law, and is included in the list of patriotic and national organizations in 36 U.S.C. sec. 20101, et seq. (b) "Department" means the department of military and veterans affairs created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-127. (c) "Local veterans service organization" means an auxiliary, local unit, or division of a congressionally chartered veterans service organization, operating in Colorado. (2) (a) The department shall pay, subject to available appropriations, up to seventy-five dollars, referred to in this section as a "stipend", to a local veterans service organization for each time the organization provides an honor guard detail to perform any of the following services at the funeral of a deceased honorably discharged veteran: (I) A basic military funeral honors ceremony, as described in subsection (3)(a) of this section; or (II) Any other funeral-related services and personnel, including but not limited to pallbearers, rifle teams, and chaplain or religious services. (b) The department shall pay a seventy-five-dollar stipend to a local veterans service organization for services performed at each funeral but may decrease the amount of the stipend paid for services performed at a second or subsequent funeral when an organization performs services at more than one funeral on the same day. When determining the amount of the stipend for services at a second or subsequent funeral, the department shall consider the actual expenses incurred by the organization and its members for providing the services, including mileage and transportation costs and meals. (c) In order to receive a stipend for providing services at a funeral, a local veterans service organization must request the stipend pursuant to the process established by the department. (3) (a) The basic military funeral honors ceremony for a veteran consists of folding and presenting the United States flag to the veteran's family, if family members are available, and playing taps. Taps must be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a high- quality recorded version. (b) If the local veterans service organization provides a student to play taps, the organization may pay some or all of the seventy-five dollars to the student. (4) On or before January 15, 2022, the department shall create a process for a local veterans service organization to apply for and receive a stipend. In addition to any other requirements, the process must require the organization to: (a) Request the stipend within fifteen days after providing the funeral services; (b) Provide the name of the deceased veteran for which the services were performed; (c) Describe the services performed; and (d) If the organization is seeking a stipend for services performed at a second or subsequent funeral on the same day as another funeral, submit the amount of actual expenses incurred by the organization and its members for providing the services, including mileage and transportation costs and meals. (5) Repealed.
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