House Bill 1087
By: Representatives Bonner of the 73rd, Hitchens of the 161st, O’Steen of the 169th, Prince
of the 132nd, Donatucci of the 105th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions regarding provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations,
so as to prohibit counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities from
charging disabled veterans certain fees related to residential improvements to be made to
accommodate such veteran's disability status; to provide a definition; to provide for a short
title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Disabled Veteran Home Modification
Act."
SECTION 2.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Disabled veterans in this state are being charged building fees, including permit fees,
plan review fees, plan examination fees, inspection fees, or other fees when any such
veteran needs to have modifications made to his or her home in order to accommodate the
veteran's disability;
(2) Such fees can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, adding a financial burden
for disabled veterans looking to make their homes more accessible;
(3) Legislation is needed to provide that a veteran with a disability shall not be charged
any fees for improvements to the residence of such veteran if the improvements are needed
to accommodate the veteran's disability; and
(4) Legislation is needed to help ensure that disabled veterans can live comfortably in their
homes and are successfully reintegrated into their communities following their military
service.
SECTION 3.
Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions regarding provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, is
amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
<ins>"36-80-32.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'disabled veteran' shall have the same meaning
as set forth in Code Section 48-5-48.
(b) Any disabled veteran may apply to the commissioner of veterans service for
certification as a disabled veteran as provided by subsection (a) of this Code section. The
commissioner of veterans service is authorized and directed to certify such applicants as
disabled veterans and to issue to such applicants such proof of certification as the
commissioner of veterans service finds appropriate. The commissioner of veterans service
</ins>
<ins>may require by rule or regulation such documentation as may be necessary to certify
disabled veterans as provided in this subsection.
(c) Any disabled veteran who is certified by the commissioner of veterans service as
provided in subsection (b) of this Code section shall not be charged any building fees,
including permit fees, plan review or plan examination fees, inspection fees, reinspection
fees, or other fees required in order to make improvements to the residence of such
disabled veteran if such improvements are required to accommodate the veteran's
disability.
(d) Nothing in this Code section changes the obligation of any person to submit an
application, form, or other documentation required by a county, municipal corporation, or
other governmental entity. A disabled veteran shall submit certification of such veteran's
disability status as required by subsection (b) of this Code section along with any
documentation as required by the commissioner of veterans service."
</ins> SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.