1. A. Pursuant to Louisiana R.S. 29:295(E) and 38 U.S.C. 2408, the following deceased members of the Louisiana National Guard or of a drilling reserve component of the Armed Forces, and their dependents, are eligible for burial in veterans cemeteries operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

   1. 1. Any member of the Louisiana National Guard or of a drilling reserve component of the Armed Forces who, having drilled for six years or been activated pursuant to Title 32 of the United States Code with total drilling time with that activation six years or more, was a Louisiana resident at the time of death or at time of service and who was discharged or released from federal and state service with an honorable discharge, as shown by a discharge certificate or NGB 22, and had never been imprisoned pursuant to an order of confinement for one year or more subsequent to a felony conviction.
   2. 2. Any member of the Louisiana National Guard or of a drilling reserve component of the Armed Forces who, having drilled or been activated pursuant to Title 32 of the United States Code, was a Louisiana resident at the time of death or time of service and whose death occurs under honorable conditions while a member of the Louisiana National Guard or the reserve component., and had never been imprisoned pursuant to an order of confinement for one year or more subsequent to a felony conviction.

   3. 3. Any spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of any member described above.

      1. a. Minor child means an unmarried child under 18 years of age.
      2. b. Unmarried adult child means a child who became permanently physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before reaching 21 years of age, or before reaching 23 years of age if pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an approved educational institution.
2. B. The person applying for burial of an eligible member of the Louisiana National Guard, reserve component of the Armed Forces, or their dependent is responsible for providing documents with the application that verify eligibility.
3. C. For members of the Louisiana National Guard or of a drilling reserve component of the Armed Forces eligible for burial pursuant to Subsection A.1 and 2 of this Section, the cost of burial shall be the amount of a burial plot allowance at the time of death established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, according to 38 U.S.C. 2303(b)(1) and (c), for veterans who are eligible for burial in a national cemetery. If funds have not been appropriated by the legislature or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for the cost of burial, the applicant shall pay the cost of burial prior to interment.

4. D. For spouses, minor children, and unmarried adult children eligible for burial pursuant to Subsection A.3 of this Section, the cost of burial including the marker shall be the amount set by R.S. 29:295(C), and shall be paid by the applicant prior to interment unless funds have not been appropriated by the legislature or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

   1. a. Spouses and children shall not be buried at the cemetery if the veteran is deceased and not buried at the cemetery, unless both are deceased and to be interred at the same time, or scheduled disinterment or re-interment to be moved to the cemetery.
5. E. If a headstone or marker must be reordered due to incorrect information provided by the applicant, the applicant shall pay the cost of a replacement headstone or marker.

6. F. To establish that the residency requirement has been met, the applicant must present a document that includes the veteran’s name and a Louisiana residence address either during military service or at time of death: Cemetery will determine if the document is acceptable. Some examples are:

   1. 1. unexpired Louisiana driver’s license or Louisiana special identification card;
   2. 2. Louisiana voter registration card;
   3. 3. Louisiana vehicle registration;
   4. 4. Homestead Tax Exemption Form;
   5. 5. Louisiana full time resident income tax return (signed and marked as received by the Louisiana Department of Revenue).
   6. 6. NGB 22 showing Louisiana address as home of record.
   7. 7. Reserve discharge or contract document showing Louisiana address as home of record.
7. G. This Section does not apply to veterans who qualify for burial in national veterans cemeteries as provided in 38 U.S.C. 2402 and 38 C.F.R. 1.620 and therefore qualify for burial in a veterans cemetery pursuant to R.S. 29:295.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 29:295(E).

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Department of Veterans Affairs, LR 50:502 (April 2024), amended LR 51:1579 (October 2025).