Skip to main content
State Seal State Seal State Seal
Home Button Home Button Home Button
 
 

Reps. Anielski, Terhar Announce Design Standards for Veteran ID Cards

New standardized format will simplify, streamline veteran ID process
September 12, 2016
Republican Newsroom

Press Release Poster

 

Today, State Representatives Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) and Lou Terhar (R-Cincinnati) held a press conference to discuss the finalized format of Ohio veteran identification cards as decided upon by the Veteran ID Material and Design Standards Committee.

 

Championed by Reps. Anielski and Terhar, Sub. House Bill 173, which went into effect last week, allows counties to authorize the issuance of veteran identification cards to qualifying individuals, either through the county recorder or the county veterans service office. While some county recorders already issue the identification cards, Sub. HB 173 seeks to standardize the cards and give veterans more options. The identification card will be useful for certain veterans who do not fit into a category to receive a veteran ID card distributed by the federal government or through their local registrar’s office.

 

Providing a standardized card also gives veterans an alternative route to using their DD 214 forms—a document issued by the US Defense Department upon retirement or discharge from the military—which is bulky and contains information too sensitive to reasonably carry around at all times.

 

“Substitute House Bill 173 will streamline the process in which a veteran or military personnel can access their rightfully deserved Vet ID card,” Rep. Anielski said. “Anything that the General Assembly can do to support our Ohio veterans, who have made many personal sacrifices, should be a common sense initiative, and I am grateful for the support from my legislative colleagues and the work of the standards committee.”

 

“This ID card program, and the requirement that veterans file their discharge certificate with the county recorder to receive it, will provide faster and better service to veterans to ensure they receive the benefits that they are due,” Rep. Terhar said.

 

In order to implement the ID cards, House Bill 173 created the Veteran ID Material and Design Standards Committee, which was charged with determining a uniform design standard to be used statewide. Members of the committee today discussed the
new design of the identification cards. Rick Campbell, Stark County Recorder, Chairman, ORA 2012 Past President, and Paul Haller, Jackson County Commissioner, both were in attendance to highlight the new format.

 

The Ohio Veteran ID card will display the veteran’s name and photo, ID number, branch, dates of service, date of discharge, and date of birth.  Also on the card, contact information is provided for the veteran’s home county recorder and veterans service
commission office, as well as the telephone number for the Veterans Crisis Line.