In his veto message to the Legislature, Fitial said Senate Bill 17-39 “is punitive in nature to a homesteader who is dishonorably discharged as other homesteaders who may be convicted of a crime are not penalized in the same fashion.”
Introduced by Sen. Juan M.Ayuyu, Ind.-Rota, the bill will also ensure that the homestead permits of those serving or who have served in the U.S. armed forces “shall not be revoked unless the homesteader has been dishonorably discharged.”
Ayuyu said the measure is in recognition of the vital role played by the men and women in uniform in securing the nation, and that every effort should be made to assist “these distinguished individuals in maintaining their homesteads while on active duty, and if the worst happens, to protect their heirs.”
Fitial said he supports the intent of the bill but added that its language does not support the intended outcome and is discriminatory to other homestead recipients.
According to the governor, the bill “presumably sets a different standard for armed service members in that the soldier is always on notice of possible revocation of his/her permit should he/she be called to active duty and is dishonorably discharged.”
Arguably, Fitial said, even after the servicemember has complied with all terms and conditions of the homestead permit, should he/she be called to active duty and thereafter is dishonorably discharged, he /she will lose the homestead permit.
The bill, he added, does not preserve the homestead lots of servicemembers or their heirs “but punishes dishonorably discharged soldiers.”
Ayuyu, in an interview with KSPN 2 on Friday, said the governor’s veto was disappointing and disrespectful to the men and women in uniform “who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom.”
