VETERANS' RELIEF FUND

MCL ch. 35, subtit. Act 214 of 1899

in effect

MCL 35.21 Veterans' relief fund; levy and collection of annual tax; "period of war" defined; emergency appropriation; disposition.

35.21. Veterans' relief fund; levy and collection of annual tax; "period of war" defined; emergency appropriation; disposition. Sec. 1. The county board of commissioners of each county shall annually levy a tax, not exceeding 1/10 of a mill on each dollar, to be levied and collected as provided by law, upon the taxable property of each township and city, for their respective counties, for the purpose of creating a fund for the relief of honorably discharged indigent members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and women's auxiliaries and the indigent spouses, minor children, and parents of each indigent or deceased member who served during a period of war as described in 38 CFR 3.2, except that for purposes of this section, "period of war" for the Vietnam era means the following: (a) February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975 for a veteran who served during that period. (b) On or after January 31, 1955 in an area of hazardous duty for which the veteran received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or Vietnam Service Medal. Funds raised in accordance with this section may be expended for the relief of indigent wives and children of active duty soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coast guardsmen, nurses, and members of the women's auxiliaries during the continuance of present hostilities and prior to their discharge. However, in any year which, in the opinion of the board, an emergency exists, the board may appropriate a sum not to exceed 2/10 of a mill on each dollar for the purposes of this section. The money, when collected, shall be paid to the county treasurer of the county where the tax is levied in each of the counties in this state, to be paid out by the treasurer upon the order of the soldiers' relief commission if signed by the chairperson and secretary of the commission. If any money in the fund is not necessary for the purpose for which it was raised, the money shall remain in the treasury of the county as a soldiers' relief fund, and shall be considered in raising future sums for this purpose. 1899, Act 214, Eff. Sept. 23, 1899; CL 1915, 1692; Am. 1919, Act 370, Eff. Aug. 14, 1919; CL 1929, 854; Am. 1931, Act 257, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931; Am. 1943, Act 114, Eff. July 30, 1943; Am. 1944, 1st Ex. Sess., Act 23, Imd. Eff. Feb. 29, 1944; CL 1948, 35.21; Am. 1984, Act 168, Imd. Eff. June 29, 1984; Am. 2016, Act 218, Eff. Sept. 20, 2016 [FormerLaw] See Act 193 of 1889, being CL 1897, §§ 2074 to 2079.

MCL 35.22 Soldiers' relief commission; membership; appointment; terms; chairperson; secretary; vacancy; oath of office; compensation; removal.

35.22. Soldiers' relief commission; membership; appointment; terms; chairperson; secretary; vacancy; oath of office; compensation; removal. Sec. 2. (1) The judge of probate in each county shall appoint 3 veterans as that term is defined in 1965 PA 190, MCL 35.61 to 35.62, who are residents of the county and who were honorably discharged soldiers, sailors, marines, nurses, or members of the women's auxiliaries of the United States Armed Forces, to a commission to be known as the "soldiers' relief commission" of the county, with the powers and duties as provided in this act. (2) Of the persons appointed under subsection (1), 1 of the persons shall be appointed for a term of 1 year; 1 for a term of 2 years; and 1 for a term of 3 years, and at the expiration of the term for which each of the persons was appointed, his or her successor shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. The persons so appointed shall organize by the selection of 1 of their number as chairperson and 1 as secretary, and in the event of the death, resignation, change of residence or other disability of any member of the commission, creating a vacancy, the judge of probate shall fill the vacancy by an appointment for the unexpired term. The members shall each file the constitutional oath of office with the probate court, and receive the proper certificate of their appointment. They are entitled to reasonable compensation for their services, to be fixed and paid by the county board of commissioners of their respective counties. The judge of probate may remove any member of the commission for cause. 1899, Act 214, Eff. Sept. 23, 1899; CL 1915, 1693; CL 1929, 855; Am. 1931, Act 257, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931; Am. 1943, Act 114, Eff. July 30, 1943; Am. 1944, 1st Ex. Sess., Act 23, Imd. Eff. Feb. 29, 1944; CL 1948, 35.22; Am. 1955, Act 225, Eff. Oct. 14, 1955; Am. 1969, Act 53, Imd. Eff. July 21, 1969; Am. 2016, Act 208, Eff. Sept. 20, 2016

MCL 35.23 Soldiers' relief commission; determination of amounts to be granted and manner of payment; judicial review.

35.23. Soldiers' relief commission; determination of amounts to be granted and manner of payment; judicial review. Sec. 3. The supervisor of each township and ward in each of the counties of this state, and where there is no ward supervisor the aldermen of the several wards of every incorporated city in this state, shall, on or before the last Monday in September in each year, make and place in the hands of the soldiers' relief commission of the county, a list of all the persons entitled to relief under the provisions of this act, and the soldiers' relief commission, on the first Monday in October in each year, shall proceed to determine the amount necessary for aid and relief to be granted such persons under this act, which shall be then and there recorded in the books to be kept by the secretary of said soldiers' relief commission. The commission may determine not only the sum to be paid, but the manner of paying the same, and may discontinue the payment of such relief in their discretion. Appeal may be taken therefrom to the circuit court of such county, by certiorari by filing application therefor with the clerk within 15 days following the making of such decision. The court shall hear the case de novo and its decision shall be final. 1899, Act 214, Eff. Sept. 23, 1899; CL 1915, 1694; CL 1929, 856; Am. 1931, Act 257, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931; CL 1948, 35.23

MCL 35.24 Emergency relief provision; limitations.

35.24. Emergency relief provision; limitations. Sec. 4. Whenever any emergency shall arise in case of sickness, accident or death, which, in the opinion of any supervisor or alderman, needs relief, such supervisor or alderman, when inconvenient to consult any of the members of said commission, shall have the power to draw an order on the county treasurer for a sum not to exceed 10 dollars, and shall certify his action and the circumstances of the case to such soldiers' relief commission, which shall ratify the same, and such commission may grant such further relief at any time as it may deem necessary: Provided, however, That no claim for relief shall be allowed and paid which shall create a deficiency in the fund. 1899, Act 214, Eff. Sept. 23, 1899; CL 1915, 1695; CL 1929, 857; CL 1948, 35.24

MCL 35.25 Soldiers' relief commission; annual report, contents.

35.25. Soldiers' relief commission; annual report, contents. Sec. 5. Said soldiers' relief commission shall make to the board of supervisors, at its October session in each year, a full report of its doings and the amount of relief money on hand, the amount expended during the year preceding, and the amount estimated for the year ensuing, and such further information and suggestions as they may consider necessary to the discharge of their duties under this act. 1899, Act 214, Eff. Sept. 23, 1899; CL 1915, 1696; CL 1929, 858; CL 1948, 35.25

MCL 35.26 Unexpended funds; transfer to general fund.

35.26. Unexpended funds; transfer to general fund. Sec. 6. In cases where moneys have heretofore been raised by any city or township under the provisions of the acts hereinafter repealed, the balance of such moneys unexpended on the first day of April, 1900, may, by vote of the common council or township board, be transmitted to, and made a part of the general fund of such city or township, as the case may be. 1899, Act 214, Eff. Sept. 23, 1899; CL 1915, 1697; CL 1929, 859; CL 1948, 35.26

MCL 35.27 Soldiers' relief commission; administration of oaths.

35.27. Soldiers' relief commission; administration of oaths. Sec. 7. The several commissioners appointed under this act shall have power to administer oaths in the execution of the duties of their offices. 1899, Act 214, Eff. Sept. 23, 1899; CL 1915, 1698; CL 1929, 860; CL 1948, 35.27

Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/Chapter%2035.xmlFetched: 10/20/2026