41-610.01. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for military veterans fund; exemption; advisory committee; annual report; committee termination

A. The hyperbaric oxygen therapy for military veterans fund is established consisting of private donations, grants, bequests and any other monies. The department shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.

B. Monies in the fund shall be used to provide financial assistance to veterans for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

C. If, after fund monies are spent to pay for hyperbaric oxygen therapy for a veteran, the department discovers that the therapy was fully or partially covered by private insurance or any other entity, the department may seek to have the fund reimbursed for the portion of the payment that was covered by private insurance or the other entity.

D. The hyperbaric oxygen therapy for military veterans advisory committee is established consisting of the following members:

1. The director or the director's designee.

2. Four members who are appointed by the governor and who are any of the following:

(a) National guard unit commanders.

(b) Doctors.

(c) Active or retired military personnel.

E. The director or the director's designee shall serve as chairperson of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy for military veterans advisory committee. Appointed members of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the governor.

F. The hyperbaric oxygen therapy for military veterans advisory committee shall:

1. Determine how to award monies from the fund.

2. Establish and revise as necessary the application process for financial assistance.

3. Make other recommendations as necessary.

G. The hyperbaric oxygen therapy for military veterans advisory committee shall submit an annual report detailing the fund's performance and the demographics of the award recipients to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

H. The committee established by this section ends on July 1, 2026 pursuant to section 41-3103.