Louisiana § RS 29:251.2 - War periods; eligibility for certain veterans' benefits

§ RS 29:251.2. War periods; eligibility for certain veterans' benefits

A.  Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, this state and its political subdivisions shall consider the following dates as wartime periods in which the United States of America was engaged in war activities, regardless of whether or not a formal declaration of war for any such period has been made by the United States Congress:

(1)  April 6, 1917 through November 11, 1918, World War I.

(2)  September 16, 1940 through July 25, 1947, World War II.

(3)  June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955, the Korean Conflict.

(4)  July 1, 1958 through May 7, 1975, the Vietnam Era; however the period of July 1, 1958 through August 4, 1964, is considered a wartime period only for those who served within the area known as the Vietnam Theater.

(5)  August 2, 1990 through the end of the Persian Gulf War as prescribed by the presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of congress.

(6)  Any period beginning on the date of any future declaration of war by the congress or on the date of any future authorization for the use of military force by presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of congress under the War Powers Resolution and ending on a date prescribed by presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of congress.

B.  Any person who was honorably discharged, or who was discharged under honorable conditions, from the armed forces of the United States, and who served during any of the wartime periods as provided in Subsection A of this Section shall be eligible for any award, benefit, credit, or emolument of any nature whatsoever, including, the purchase of credit for military service in accordance with the laws governing the involved state or local retirement system, if any other person who served during any of the wartime periods is lawfully granted eligibility to participate in any such award, benefit, credit, or emolument.

Added by Acts 1981, No. 606, §1, eff. July 20, 1981; Acts 1990, No. 20, §1; Acts 1992, No. 597, §1, eff. July 2, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 1051, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 2005, No. 501, §2, eff. July 12, 2005.

NOTE:  Acts 2005, No. 501, §3, provides that the provisions of Paragraph (A)(6) as amended by the Act have retroactive application to September 11, 2001.