UTAH VETERANS DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
UTAH VETERANS DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ISSUE & POSITIONS
State Issues
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Exempt military retirement pay from income tax
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Expansion of HB60 (2018) allowing seniors to audit classes at state higher education institutions to include disabled veterans who are VA rated disabled 80% or higher and/or are individually rated as Individual Unemployability (and therefore cannot utilize the GI Bill)
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Concealed Carry Permits should require a range test of weapon proficiency prior to initial issue
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UTA must facilitate convenient and timely access to VA services - work with UDOT to create a bus pullout close to the VA hospital main building
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Veteran addiction and mental illness treatment access must be supported (with sufficient space in treatment facilities) and Veteran housing support (information & advocacy) & rapid rehousing for homeless Veterans must be supported
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During COVID-19 response, parking lot adjacent to VA campus, in partnership with UDMVA as a safe parking location for Veterans living in vehicles
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In all cases dealing with firearm regulations, we firmly oppose the creation of any standing registry of firearm owners
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We support a Red Flag Law with due process protections (Rep Handy)
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We support a State Storage Law with appropriate exceptions (Rep Weight) (maintain support for locks and guns safes as Point of Sale)
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We support Universal background checks with family transfer exemptions (Rep King)
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We support Dangerous Weapon Custodian Liability accountability with appropriate burden of proof clause (Rep Stoddard 2020 HB 115 (2020) - needs work)
Federal Issues
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We oppose the ban on transgender deployments (which lead to discharges)
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Marijuana needs to be transferred from a schedule I to a schedule V drug for research and regulation
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State-sanctioned medical marijuana use should not disqualify for VA benefits, rapid veteran rehousing, etc
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Increase funding for Veterans Health Care (VA FTE funding has been decreasing while needs are increasing)
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Veteran addiction and mental illness treatment access must be supported (with sufficient space in treatment facilities) and Veteran housing support (information & advocacy) & rapid rehousing for homeless Veterans must be supported
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Support passage of the Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act