Chapter 119: New Hampshire Veterans' Home

I. There is established in this state a home known as the New Hampshire veterans' home for the support, care, and treatment of veterans who have served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States as defined by 38 U.S.C. section 101, or in reserve units or in the New Hampshire army or air national guard, and have been discharged of a character outlined in RSA 21:50 therefrom. Except as provided in paragraph II, the veteran shall have been a resident of the state of New Hampshire for at least one year next preceding the veteran's application.

II. The one-year residency requirement shall be waived for the following veterans:

(a) A veteran whose DD214 certificate or any document used by the veterans' home for admission states a New Hampshire address as his or her home of record upon discharge from active duty.

(b) An active duty veteran who has a New Hampshire address as his or her home of record and who is being discharged directly from a medical facility.

III. The care of veterans under this section includes nursing care, assisted living, domiciliary, day care, dementia, chemical dependency and psychiatric services, and other related services and programs for any veteran otherwise eligible for admittance. Such services and programs shall be provided at the veterans' home or contracted through other organizations and facilities, both within and outside of New Hampshire.

Whenever in the statutes the words "New Hampshire Soldiers' Home" or "Soldiers' Home" are used, they shall be construed as meaning the "New Hampshire Veterans' Home" or "Veterans' Home".

I. The government of the home is vested in the board of managers of the New Hampshire veterans' home. The board shall consist of the commanders of the veterans departments of New Hampshire ex officiis, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and 9 citizens of the state to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the council.

[Paragraph II effective until Aug. 31, 2026; see also paragraph II set out below.]

II. At least 6 of the appointed citizens shall have served in the armed forces of the United States in any war in which the United States has been, is, or shall be engaged, and who are, or shall be, honorably discharged or separated from the armed forces under conditions other than dishonorable. One appointee shall be a member in good standing of the department of the American Legion, one of the department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, one of the department of the Disabled American Veterans and 3, including at least one female appointee, shall be active members of recognized and chartered veterans service organizations. One appointee shall be a female member in good standing of the department of the American Legion Auxiliary, the department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, the department of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, or the department of the Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc. Auxiliary. Two appointees, one of whom shall be male and one of whom shall be female, shall be residents of the veterans' home.

[Paragraph II effective Aug. 31, 2026; see also paragraph II set out above.]

II. At least 6 of the appointed citizens shall have served in the armed forces of the United States in any war in which the United States has been, is, or shall be engaged, and who are, or shall be, discharged of a character outlined in RSA 21:50 or separated from the armed forces under conditions other than dishonorable. One appointee shall be a member in good standing of the department of the American Legion, one of the department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, one of the department of the Disabled American Veterans and 3, including at least one female appointee, shall be active members of recognized and chartered veterans service organizations. One appointee shall be a female member in good standing of the department of the American Legion Auxiliary, the department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, the department of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, or the department of the Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc. Auxiliary. Two appointees, one of whom shall be male and one of whom shall be female, shall be residents of the veterans' home.

III. The appointment of a member from an auxiliary organization shall be rotated in the order in which they are listed and each appointed member shall hold office for a 3-year term. The members of the department of the American Legion, the department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the department of Disabled American Veterans shall hold office for a term of 4 years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. The 3 members of recognized and chartered veterans service organizations shall hold office for staggered terms of 3 years each and until a successor is appointed.

IV. In case of any vacancy on the board an appointment shall be made in the same manner for the unexpired term.

The board of managers shall meet monthly and when called to meet by the chairman of the board. All meeting times and venues shall be noticed in the calendars of the house of representatives and the senate.

The board shall choose one of their number chairman and another, secretary, to hold office during the pleasure of the board. The secretary shall keep a correct record of the proceedings of the board and perform such other duties as they may require of him.

The board shall have the custody and care of the property of the institution, shall make needed bylaws and shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to the management of the veterans' home and for the admission and discharge of residents. The board shall do all things necessary to carry into effect the purposes for which the home was established.

The board shall appoint, or may remove, for just cause, a commandant of the home. A veteran as defined by RSA 21:50 shall have preference for employment in the home if qualified by the New Hampshire division of personnel.

The annual salary of the commandant of the veterans' home shall be as prescribed by RSA 94:1-4.

The board is empowered to receive, on behalf of the state, all donations and bequests that may be made for the establishment and maintenance of the home and for the support and care of the residents of the home.

A veteran who desires admission shall make application on forms furnished by the home. Rules relative to admittance or rejection of an applicant, including an appeal process, shall be adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A, by the board of managers.

The board shall file with the secretary of state, the fiscal committee of the general court, and the commissioner of administrative services, on or before October 1, a report to the legislature, setting forth the operations and condition of the home, a detailed account of all moneys received and expended on its behalf since the last report, an estimate of the amount of money required for its uses before the meeting of the next legislature, and such other matters and recommendations as they shall think its interests require.

No member of the board shall receive compensation for any services rendered. Mileage shall be paid from the member's home of residence to and from the veterans' home or any other place designated under special conditions by the chairman.