Report shows $211,962 from table games; DAV van payment and cascaded payments to cemetery funds and stand‑down supplies

Director David Richmond presented the Coordinated Veterans Assistance Fund (CVAF) report and outlined how the fund’s receipts were distributed in the last fiscal cycle. "This fund is derived from table games, and we got, in the last year, $211,962.38," Richmond said.

The bureau made the following payments: $15,000 to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) for a van program that transports veterans to VA medical appointments; equal payouts (up to $64,500 each) to veteran service organizations with full‑time veteran service officers at Togus (this year those payouts went to the American Legion and the VFW); $46,214 to the Maine Veterans Cemetery Care Fund; $8,155 to the Maine Cemetery Flag Fund (for grave flags and facility flags); and $13,592.48 to the VFW to provide material support at stand downs (thermal underwear, socks, sleeping bags).

Richmond told the committee he would investigate whether DAV and Paralyzed Veterans of America — both of which have historically provided full‑time service officers at Togus — should be included in the equal payouts going forward. "My interpretation of the statute as it is is that we should pay out DAV, in this year going forward," Richmond said, but he warned that adding another eligible recipient would reduce amounts available to later cascade recipients.

Committee members asked whether changes to state eGaming law (moving some table games online) will reduce revenues available to the fund. Richmond said analysts are assessing the impact and that the bureau will know more after next year; if revenues decline, the legislature could consider amendments to protect statutory cascades.

The committee did not vote on CVAF allocations; the presentation was accepted and members asked staff for follow‑up on eligibility and longer‑term revenue projections.