STATE OF CONNECTICUT
NANCY WYMAN COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARK OJAKIAN DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

MEMORANDUM NO. 2000-31a

September 29, 2000

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

I. AUTHORITY

Public Act 00-131, effective October 1, 2000, makes additions to the definition of service in time of war in Section 27-103 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

II. IMPACT

The following time should be included when determining an employee's eligibility for longevity payments:

Wartime service includes active duty for service in the demilitarized zone in South Korea after February 1, 1955; in Somalia after December 2, 1992; and in Bosnia after December 20, 1995.

Agencies should consult veteran's discharge papers (DD-214) for evidence of qualifying service. However, a record of qualifying service may not appear on the discharge papers. In such cases, veterans who claim qualifying service should provide their agency with an affidavit affirming their qualifying service.

The affidavit should certify, under penalty of perjury and disciplinary action, that the veteran was on active duty in one of the qualifying areas during the qualifying time period, e.g.:
"I certify under penalty of perjury that I served in the armed forces of the United States (or with the armed forces of any government associated with the United States) in (the demilitarized zone of South Korea; Somalia; Bosnia) during (dates of service in the qualifying area). I understand that giving false information may result in criminal prosecution and disciplinary action up to and including dismissal."

The Office of the State Comptroller will be developing a form for use as an affidavit in the future. Until this form is developed, agencies should use the format suggested above. A new Statewide Memorandum will be issued when the form is ready.

III. AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY

Agencies should review their determination of each employee's service time basis for longevity eligibility, ensuring inclusion of eligible war service periods as modified by Public Act 00-131, for all longevity payments made after October 1, 2000. This includes the longevity payment that will be paid check date October 20, 2000.

IV. QUESTIONS

Please direct your questions concerning this memorandum as follows:

NANCY   WYMAN
STATE COMPTROLLER

NW: MS 

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