Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, this week introduced a legislative plan to continue and strengthen services for military veterans in their home counties.

Glenn’s plan revises criteria for a county veteran service fund helping local offices across Michigan deliver services – changes necessary because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan would waive certain “maintenance of effort” spending level requirements on county veteran programs, and provide more flexibility on how grant money can be spent.

“COVID-19 has caused so much disruption across the state – operations just haven’t been normal for anything, and that includes some county-level service programs for military veterans,” Glenn said. “We’ve got to make sure that does not cause longer lasting effects on the ability for our military veterans to get the services they have earned, deserve and need. This legislation ensures counties can continue to get funding for these critical programs during these challenging times – and that military veterans will continue to get the help they need in their own communities.”

The changes within Glenn’s legislation would allow a county to use money to form an emergent need relief program to provide direct financial assistance through its veteran service operation. It also would expand the types of allowable expenditures if they are determined to be necessary and proper.

Glenn’s measure – House Bill 4122 – was referred to the Committee on Military, Veterans and Homeland Security for consideration.