House lawmakers have passed a measure that expands the definition of a veteran in the state. House Bill 1179 allows National Guard members who have not served active duty to receive veteran status. Currently to qualify as a veteran a person must serve federal active duty for a period of 90 days. Representative Mathew Wollman is a republican from Madison. Wollman says this provision disqualifies over 25,000 South Dakotans who have served in the National Guard. He says those who have served South Dakota and taken an oath shouldn’t be barred from receiving veteran honors.
WolImann says, "I can tell you that a veteran is any individual that raised his or her right hand swearing to defend this great state or nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
Wollmann says this does not affect the federal definition of a veteran and does not affect federal benefits granted to veterans.
The measure passed by a vote of 53 to 14 and now moves to the Senate.