Resolve, To Establish a Stakeholder Group for the Development of a Plan for the Inventory and Proper Care of Veterans' Graves

Sec. 1. Creation of stakeholder group; membership. Resolved: That, within its existing resources, the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services shall establish a stakeholder group, referred to in this resolve as "the stakeholder group," for the development of a plan for the inventory and proper care of veterans' graves. The bureau shall invite the participation of representatives of municipal government, county government, genealogy groups and veterans' organizations; a designee of the Maine Old Cemetery Association and a designee of the Maine Cemetery Association; and interested members of the public; and be it further

Sec. 2. Duties. Resolved: That the stakeholder group shall review the status of the graves of all veterans of the United States Armed Forces throughout the State. The stakeholder group is not required to consider veterans' graves in private cemeteries unless they are considered ancient burying grounds subject to care and maintenance by a town or county as prescribed by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13, sections 1101 to 1102. The stakeholder group shall issue a report that makes recommendations to ensure that veterans' graves are properly cared for, especially those of veterans who no longer have family members who are able to monitor and maintain those graves; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 15, 2013, the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services shall report the stakeholder group's findings and recommendations and any suggested legislation to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans matters and state and local government matters.