(a) There is established within the Office of Veterans Affairs, under the Office of the Governor, an account to be known as the “Veterans Emergency and Mainland Transportation and Burial Expenses Account.” The purpose of this account is to provide transportation assistance to veterans for the purpose of receiving necessary medical care and to assist with burial expenses. The funds in the Account must be used exclusively to cover airfare expenses for Virgin Islands veterans who travel to the mainland United States to receive necessary medical care and to assist with the payment of burial expenses in accordance with 3 V.I.C. § 8b. Reimbursement for transportation assistance shall be provided upon presentation of documentation signed by an authorized licensed medical provider. The fund shall consist of an annual appropriation by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, any grants, contributions, gifts and bequests, federal or local.
(b) The Director of Veterans Affairs, or a designee within the Office of the Governor, shall cover all or part of the costs associated with transporting veterans of the United States Armed Forces residing in the Virgin Islands to and from Veterans Administration hospitals, located outside the territory for the purpose of receiving emergency medical treatment or services. Additionally, funds may be disbursed to cover transportation costs for at least one family member, or other individual, to accompany the veteran to and from the medical facility.
(c) The Director of Veterans Affairs, or a designee within the Office of the Governor, shall pay 100% of the airfare costs incurred by Virgin Islands veterans of the United States Armed Forces for travel, up to twice per calendar year, to and from medical facilities, including Veterans Administration hospitals, located on the mainland United States, for the purpose of receiving medical treatment and services. Additionally, the Director shall cover 100% of the airfare costs for at least one family member, or other individual, to accompany the veteran, provided that the veteran requires assistance with daily tasks or is suffering from a catastrophic illness. Only economy or coach class ticket fares are reimbursable.
(d) The Commissioner of Health and the Director of the Office of Veterans Affairs shall promulgate regulations defining the terms “emergency treatment and services” and “catastrophic illness” for the purposes of subsection (c).
(e) For the purposes of this section, a “Virgin Islands Veteran” is a person who was discharged or released under conditions other than a dishonorable discharge from the United States Armed Services who served in active military, naval or space services and who either (1) entered the Armed Services of the United States while residing in the Virgin Islands, or (2) claimed the Virgin Islands as his domicile but entered the Armed Services in another jurisdiction while temporarily residing there for the purpose of attending high school or postsecondary education, or (3) served in the Virgin Islands National Guard for 20 or more years of qualifying service as a traditional M-Day soldier or airman.