Chap. 0573 An Act providing financial assistance for certain veterans' organizations in defraying expenses incurred by them in conducting military funerals or burials of persons who died in overseas service during world war ii.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose which is to provide immediate financial assistance for certain veterans' organizations in the proper interment in this country of the bodies of persons who died while serving overseas during World War II, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

Section 1. Cities and towns may appropriate money for the purpose of reimbursing a post or posts of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States or the Disabled American Veterans of the World War for expenses actually incurred by such post or posts in connection with the military funeral or burial of a person who died while serving overseas in the military or naval service of the United States in World War II, and who was domiciled in this commonwealth at the time of entering such service. The amount reimbursed such post or posts shall not exceed fifty dollars for a single funeral or burial and, in the event that said post shall have received contributions from any other source to meet such expenses, the amount reimbursed by the city or town shall be reduced by the amount of such contribution for any funeral or burial. When two or more posts conduct a funeral or burial jointly, each such post may be reimbursed such proportionate part of the amount authorized as may be approved in writing by the commissioner of veterans' services. Application for reimbursement hereunder shall be made to the person authorized to disburse state or military aid or veterans' benefits in the city or town in which the person buried was domiciled in this commonwealth at the time of entering the military or naval service of the United States.

Section 2. The commonwealth shall reimburse a city or town for payments made under authority of this act upon application made by the person authorized to disburse state

and military aid or veterans' benefits in such city or town, on forms prepared by the commissioner of veterans' services; provided, that such application shall be made during the year in which the funeral or burial is held; and provided, further, that reimbursement by the commonwealth shall not exceed the amount approved by said commissioner. The commonwealth shall reimburse such city or town therefor when reimbursing it for payments of state and military aid or veterans' benefits. Approved June 14,1946.