36.10 Veterans’ litigation awards.
1. For purposes of this section, “Vietnam herbicide” means a herbicide, defoliant, or other causative agent containing dioxin, including, but not limited to, Agent Orange, used in the Vietnam Conflict at any time between December 22, 1961, and May 7, 1975, inclusive.
2. a. Notwithstanding any other law of this state, proceeds received pursuant to a judgment in, or settlement of, a lawsuit against the manufacturer or distributor of a Vietnam herbicide for damages resulting from exposure to the herbicide shall not be considered as income or an asset for determining the eligibility for state or local government benefit or entitlement programs. The proceeds are not subject to recoupment for the receipt of governmental benefits or entitlements and liens, except liens for child support, are not enforceable against these sums for any reason.
b. This exclusion of litigation proceeds from benefit or entitlement program calculations are available only to disabled veterans or their beneficiaries, whether payment is received in a lump sum or payable in installments over a period of years.
89 Acts, ch 249, §1
CS89, §139A.11
C93, §36.10