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The next JECVO meeting will be January 16th beginning at 10:00 AM local time at VFW Post 4075, 104 Second Street, Frankfort. Attendees can expect program updates from KDVA, the Lexington VA Medical Center as well as other informative speakers. An update on legislative matters affecting Kentucky veterans will be presented. Join the representatives of twenty-six veteran service organizations in being informed on important

matters regarding Kentucky veterans and their families! The Kentucky General Assembly will convene on January 8, 2019 for their 2019 session. It will be a “short” session with only 30 work days. The first four days, January 8-11, will be used for organization, leadership appointments and committee assignments.

Bills will also be introduced in both House and Senate chambers. They will then adjourn until February 5th at which time they will continue until they complete 30 work days. Legislators can be easily contacted while they are in session by using the following toll-free numbers (operational only in Kentucky): Legislative Message Line: 1-800-372-7181 Bill Status Line 1-866-840-2835 Calendar Line (Meetings) 1-800-633-9650 TTY Message Line 1-800-896-0305 En Español 1-866-840-6574 You can keep track of all legislation by going to the website of the Legislative Research Commission at www.lrc.ky.gov and following the links. On this site, you can find your legislator contact information, follow various meeting schedules, and keep track of specific legislation as it moves through the process. *******************

JECVO NEWS January 6, 2019

A publication of the Joint Executive Council of Veterans Organizations of Kentucky (JECVO)

https://www.facebook.com/JECVOKY/

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Representatives of the twenty-six veteran service organizations (VSO’s) who are members of JECVO met on December 5th and approved four legislative priorities for the upcoming session. Because it is a “short” session with little room for mistakes or delays, it is imperative that JECVO’s legislative efforts be focused on important and achievable goals. The four priorities set for the upcoming session are: 1. Support a bill (yet to be filed) strongly endorsing an initiative by the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA) to relieve deserving Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) of property tax when their annual charitable contributions qualify them as “purely public charities”. KRS 14A.1-070 should be amended to include

section (46) such that this section of the statute defines Veteran Service Organization in a manner that provides criteria for a VSO to qualify as a purely public charity. A formal Resolution was passed by JECVO supporting this initiative.

2. Support pre-filed bill BR 144 by Representative Chad McCoy that amends KRS 238.545 (4)(f)3 by deleting the following: “Charity fundraising events at an unlicensed facility shall be limited to:

a. No more than one (1) such event per week; and b. No more than seven (7) such events per year, with no more than five (5) licensed

charitable organizations conducting such events at an unlicensed facility per year.”

This corrects an unintended consequence that limits the number of charitable fundraising events that a Charitable Gaming Commission license holder (VSO post) may have at an unlicensed gaming facility (convention hotels). This limitation severely reduced the income derived from selling pull tabs and therefore the availability of funds to support community charitable programs or events. The Commission is OK with the bill and assisted with the correcting language.

3. Support a bill (yet to be filed) that authorizes a “Green Alert” system, similar to the Amber Alert and Golden Alert systems already in place, to report missing veterans at risk. A "veteran at risk" means a veteran of the armed forces, the national guard, or the military reserve forces of the US who is known, based on the information provided by the person making the report, to have a physical or mental health condition that is related to his or her service. A similar program was implemented by law in Wisconsin in 2017 and North Carolina is reviewing the program for possible implementation.

4. Support pre-filed bill BR 76 by Representative David Osborne, et.al. that amends KRS 139.495 relating to exemption from sales and use tax the sale of admissions by nonprofit educational, charitable, or religious institutions; amend KRS 139.200 to add the exemption; amend KRS 132.195 to exempt from property tax leasehold interests in property owned by a purely public charity when the property and income are used to further the purely public charity’s mission; EMERGENCY. This eliminates the need for VSOs and other charitable organizations from charging & collecting taxes on bingo cards, tickets for events, and the sale of other related items.

JECVO leadership and KDVA staff will be reviewing all introduced bills that might affect veterans and their families, good or bad, to determine an appropriate response. ********************

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Trivia question: Who spoke these powerful words? “We must be willing, individually and as a nation, to accept whatever sacrifices may be required of us. A people that values it privileges above its principles soon loses both!” *******************

JECVO lost a dear friend and long-time supporter upon the death September 22nd of Joseph (Joe) Doebler, Executive Director, AMVETS, Department of Kentucky. The twenty-six veteran service organizations who are members of JECVO extend our condolences to Joe’s family and friends. We will miss his leadership, knowledge, and faithfulness in support of Kentucky’s veterans and their families! Joe was a member of AMVETS Post 1, VFW, American Legion, Marine Corps League and Valley Masonic Lodge # 511. He served in the United States Marine Corps with one tour of duty in

Korea and was honorably discharged in 1953. He Joined AMVETS in 1954 and served as the Executive Director of AMVETS Dept. of KY for over 35 years; President of the AMVETS Convention Corporation (40 years); and Newspaper Editor of the Kentucky AMVET News (30 years). He also held many other Department offices, including two terms as AMVETS Department Commander. Over the years he served as Post Commander many times along with other post positions. At the time of his death, he served as AMVETS representative to the Joint Executive Council of Veteran Organizations (JECVO) and as a member of the Board of Directors, Kentucky Department of Veteran Affairs Trust Fund Program. *******************

Occupancy rates in 3 of the 4 nursing homes operated by KDVA continues to be a problem! A systemic problem in obtaining sufficient staffing is the often-stated reason for maintaining a significant number of empty beds. As of November 30, 2018, the following are occupancy statistics: Thomson-Hood Veterans Center 156/285 beds 55%; Western Kentucky Veterans Center 87/156 beds 56%; Radcliff Veterans Center 46/120 beds 38%; Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center 109/120 beds 92%.

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A Fisher House is planned for construction on the Franklin R. Sousley Campus, Lexington VA Medical Center on Leestown Road! This important addition to the campus will offer FREE housing to families of veterans who have been admitted to the VA facility. It is planned to be a 13,400 sq. ft. facility with 16 suites. It will cost $6.6 million and construction will take 9-15 months. Donations are welcomed and can be made locally to the Friends of Lexington

Fisher House or nationally to the Fisher House Foundation! This is a “home away from home” and VSOs would be a welcomed partner in making this happen! Interested? Learn more by

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visiting website www.friendsoflexingtonfisherhouse.org or by email at lexingtonfisherhouse@gmail.com. ******************

On October 3, 2018, JECVO elected new leadership for the 2018-19 term. Jack Mattingly (left) took over as Chairman of JECVO from outgoing Chairman Denzil Lile at their regular meeting! Mr. Mattingly currently serves as President, Kentucky State Council, Vietnam Veterans of America. Other elected or appointed leaders are: Mike Stoyonovich Vice Chairman Carlos Pugh Legislative Officer Dave Jarrett Public Affairs Officer Bobbie Smith Finance Officer Richard Eisert Legal Advisor Mike Whitfield Sergeant-at-Arms

******************* Answer Trivia # 1: President Dwight D. Eisenhower ******************* Did you know? 1. The design of the NEW Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville is 80% completed with a construction bid package scheduled for April 2019. The project, expected to cost $900 million, will be constructed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers with completion planned for 2024. 2. A Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on December 11th for the NEW Fort Knox VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic. Construction of the 18,000 sq. ft. facility will begin in the Spring with completion scheduled for 2020. 3. The 39th National Wheelchair Game will be held in Louisville this year! Volunteers are needed to assist with the 19 events. Participant registration opened January 7th. For more details, go to www.wheelchairgames.org. 4. In addition to the 5 state veteran cemeteries, Kentucky has 5 national cemeteries! The Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville and the Lexington National Cemetery are both closed for further internments. Internments are still accepted in the Camp Nelson (Jessamine County), Lebanon (Marion County) and Mill Springs (Pulaski County) national cemeteries. 5. 38% of individuals leaving military service stay with their trained occupation when entering the civilian work force! Kentucky currently has 3.8% veteran unemployment. Unemployment of military spouses is 26%. 6. Eastern Kentucky University ranked 14th in the nation for schools friendly to veterans! *******************

As of November 30, 2018, KDVA has interred 12,934 veterans and family members in its five state-operated cemeteries. Individual totals are as follows: KVC West (opened 2004) 4,201; KVC Central (opened 2007) 6,061; KVC North (opened 2008) 1674; KVC North East (opened 2010) 977; and KVC South East (opened 2018) 21.

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The Lexington VA Medical Center and local officials held a Groundbreaking Ceremony on December 18th for a $13 million development project to reduce homelessness in the city. The project will be completed at the Franklin R. Sousley Campus on Leestown Road. The number of homeless veterans in Lexington dropped from 162 in 2017 to 92 in 2018 according to an annual homeless count, but officials hope the innovative affordable housing project will help bring that number close to zero by 2020.The Victory Point Apartments and Townhomes project will add 50 new affordable housing units on the grounds by re-using and renovating four buildings on the campus and constructing six new buildings. The units are projected to be completed in the next 12 to 14 months. The VA has been charged with re-adapting unused or under-utilized buildings and land on its campuses across the country. This is the first project in Kentucky to add affordable housing to an existing campus according to VA officials. The four current buildings will be gutted (one is pictured above) and renovated to create 26 apartments. The six new buildings will have 24 townhouse apartments for a total of 38,330 square feet of living space. ********************* Get your information quicker! Join JECVO’s Facebook page! Go to Facebook, type in Search the words Joint Executive and you’ll find us. “Like” our page and invite your friends to do the same! Forward the newsletter to your friends who may be interested and/or post on your bulletin boards. One of the goals of JECVO is to have an informed veteran population so do your part by sharing information you receive with others! Larry L. Arnett Colonel (Ret.) U.S. Army JECVO Past Chairman 502-382-7059 @LarryArnett