An Act To Allow Christine Pratt To Be Buried at the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0619
Committee Amendment CA_A_H921 (House)
Amends: 37-B MRSA §504

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "If,' to H.P. 455, L.D. 619, "An Act To Allow 
Christine Pratt To Be Buried at the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act Regarding Eligibility for Burial in the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery 
System' 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Honorable John L. Tuttle, Jr., served for 10 years as a member of the 
Maine Army National Guard and for nearly 30 years in both the Senate and House of 
Representatives in the Maine State Legislature; and 
Whereas, the Honorable John L. Tuttle, Jr., passed away on January 27, 2022 while 
serving his 12th term in the House of Representatives; and 
Whereas, there is pending federal legislation that will allow states to determine 
eligibility criteria for burial in state veterans' cemeteries of those who died while a member 
or former member of the military forces identified in this legislation; and 
Whereas, the Legislature wishes to honor the services of the Honorable John L. 
Tuttle, Jr., by allowing his burial in the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System in 
accordance with the pending federal legislation; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~os 
COMMITTEEAMENDMENTf;toH.P. 455, L.D. 619 
'Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §504, sub-§4, ,-B-1 is enacted to read: 
B-1. The director may allow the earth burial in one of the cemeteries of a person, and 
any spouse or minor child of that person, who meets the criteria established by the 
department by rule and who died while: 
(1) A member or former member of the National Guard; 
(2) A member or former member of the state military forces or the Reserve 
Components of the United States Armed Forces; or 
(3) A member of a reserve officer training corps of the United States Armed Forces. 
The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this paragraph, including 
rules governing the eligibility for burial in the cemeteries. In establishing criteria for 
the burial of a person under this paragraph, the department shall ensure that such 
criteria comply with any applicable state or federal requirements. Rules adopted 
pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 3 7 5, 
subchapter 2-A.' 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
'Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes and replaces the bill and provides the Director of the Maine 
Bureau of Veterans' Services with the authority to allow burial in the Maine Veterans' 
Memorial Cemetery System of the remains of a person, such as the Honorable John L. 
Tuttle, Jr., who passed away on January 27, 2022, and any spouse or minor child of that 
person, who died while a member or former member of the National Guard; a member or 
former member of the state military forces or the Reserve Components of the United States 
Armed Forces; or a member of a reserve officer training corps of the United States Armed 
Forces. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/25/22 feae 
LD619 
LR 625(02) 
An Act To Allow Christine Pratt To Be Buried at the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment /ft elf- 92.f) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management associated with rulemaking can 
be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0625(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1