PUBLIC LAW 106-117 —NOV. 30, 1999 113 STAT. 1581 SEC. 613. INDEPENDENT STUDY ON IMPROVEMENTS TO VETERANS' CEMETERIES. (a) STUDY.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with one or more qualified organizations to conduct a study of national cemeteries described in subsection (b). For purposes of this section, an entity of Federal, State, or local government is not a qualified orgginization. (b) MATTERS STUDIED.—(1) The study conducted pursuant to the contract entered into under subsection (a) shall include an assessment of each of the following: (A) The one-time repairs required at each national cemetery under the jurisdiction of the National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure a dignified and respectful setting appropriate to such cemetery, taking into account the variety of age, climate,, and burial options at individual national cemeteries. (B) The feasibility of making standards of appeareince of active national cemeteries, and the feasibility of making standards of appeeirance of closed national cemeteries, commensurate with standards of appearance of the finest cemeteries in the world. (C) The number of additional national cemeteries that will be required for the interment and memorialization in such cemeteries of individuals qualified under chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, who die afl;er 2005. (D) The advantages and disadvantages of the use by the National Cemetery Administration of flat grave markers and upright grave markers. (E) The current condition of flat grave marker sections at each of the national cemeteries. (2) In presenting the assessment of additional national cemeteries required under paragraph (1)(C), the report shall identify by five-year period, beginning with 2005 and ending with 2020, the following: (A) The number of additional national cemeteries required during each such five-year period. (B) With respect to each such five-year period, the areas in the United States with the greatest concentration of veterans whose needs are not served by national cemeteries or State vetergins' cemeteries. (c) REPORT.—(1) Not later thgm one year after the date on which a qualified organization enters into a contract under subsection (a), the organization shall submit to the Secretary a report setting forth the results of the study conducted and conclusions of the organization with respect to such results. (2) Not later than 120 days after the date on which a report is submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a copy of the report, together with any comments on the report that the Secretary considers appropriate. 38 USC 2404 note. Deadline. Contracts. Deadlines.
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