2013 -- S 0479 SUBSTITUTE B

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LC01821/SUB B

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS'

AFFAIRS

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Bates, Cote, Raptakis, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 30-17.1 of the General Laws entitled "Veterans' Affairs" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     30-17.1-8. Legislative findings. -- The general assembly hereby finds that there is a gap

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in resources and information necessary to effectively support and address the needs of veterans

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and our state agencies must work together more effectively to collaborate, coordinate, leverage

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and ultimately enhance existing state, federal and private veterans' services to meet and exceed

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the needs and expectations of Rhode Island's veterans and their families.

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     30-17.1-9. Definitions. -- When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the

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following meanings:

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     (1) "Advisory Committee" means the veterans' services strategic plan advisory committee

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as established in section 30-17.1-10.

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     (2) "Committee" means the veterans' committee pursuant to the provisions of subdivision

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30-17.1-11 (c)(8).

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     (3) "State agencies" means state entities responsible for the implementation of services

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for Rhode Island veterans and their families including:

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     (i) The division of veterans' affairs;

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     (ii) The division of planning;

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     (iii) The department of human services;

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     (iv) The Rhode Island board of education;

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     (v) The department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals;

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     (vi) The department of health;

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     (vii) The division of elderly affairs;

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     (viii) The department of business regulation;

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     (ix) The department of the attorney general;

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     (x) The department of labor and training;

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     (xi) The economic development corporation; and

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     (xii) The office of the secretary of state.

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     (4) "Veterans' Services Strategic Plan ('VSSP')" means the strategic plan as established in

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section 30-17.1-11.

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     30-17.1-10. Veterans' services strategic plan advisory committee established. -- (a)

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There is hereby created a veterans' services strategic plan advisory committee known as "the

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Rhode Island veterans' services strategic plan advisory committee" consisting of twelve (12)

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members as follows:

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     (1) One of whom shall be the director of the division of veterans' affairs, or his or her

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designee, who shall serve as co-chairperson;

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     (2) One of whom shall be the director of the department of human services, or his or her

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designee, who shall serve as co-chairperson;

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     (3) One of whom shall be the associate director of the division of planning, or his or her

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designee;

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     (4) One of whom shall be the chair of the Rhode Island board of education, or his or her

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designee;

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     (5) One of whom shall be the director of the department of behavioral healthcare,

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developmental disabilities and hospitals, or his or her designee;

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     (6) One of whom shall be the director of department of health, or his or her designee;

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     (7) One of whom shall be the director of the division of elderly affairs, or his or her

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designee;

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     (8) One of whom shall be the director of the department of business regulation, or his or

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her designee;

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     (9) One of whom shall be the attorney general, or his or her designee;

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     (10) One of whom shall be the director of the department of labor and training, or his or

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her designee;

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     (11) One of whom shall be the director of the economic development corporation, or his

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or her designee;

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     (12) One of whom shall be the secretary of state, or his or her designee.

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     (b) Forthwith upon the passage of this chapter, the members of the advisory committee

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shall meet at the call of the chairperson and organize. Thereafter, the committee shall meet

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quarterly and at the call of the chairperson or three (3) members of the advisory committee.

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     (c) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentation, and otherwise to the committee and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable

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by the advisory committee to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

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     (d) The department of human services, division of veterans' affairs, is hereby directed to

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provide suitable quarters and staff for the advisory committee.

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     (e) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentation, and otherwise to the commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the advisory committee to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

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     (f) The members of the advisory committee shall receive no compensation for their

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services. Members of the committee shall serve for a term of three (3) years and may not succeed

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themselves more than once after January 1, 2016.

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     30-17.1-11. The duties of the committee. -- (a) The advisory committee acting through

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the division of veterans' affairs, shall work in conjunction with the department of human services

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to develop, maintain and annually update a five (5) year statewide veterans' services strategic plan

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("VSSP"), that includes goals and measurable outcomes to ensure that all departments deliver

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comprehensive services and supports for veterans and their families.

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     (b) The advisory committee shall conduct an analysis of study toward the development of

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the "VSSP" that shall include, but not be limited to, the following veterans' issues:

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     (1) Access to benefits;

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     (2) Employment opportunities;

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     (3) Veteran-owned small business growth;

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     (4) Educational attainment;

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     (5) Job skills training;

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     (6) Behavioral health;

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     (7) Long-term health care options;

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     (8) Criminal justice issues; and

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     (9) Homelessness.

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     (c) Establish a veterans' committee comprised of no fewer than five (5) veterans,

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representing diverse interests and viewpoints, that shall provide input to the advisory committee

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on all matters pertaining to the preparation or implementation of the veterans' services strategic

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plan. The committee shall receive administrative support from the departments and the members

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shall not receive compensation for their service. The committee shall meet at least quarterly and

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at the call of the co-chairs or four (4) members of the veterans' committee.

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     (d) The "VSSP" shall:

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     (1) Be based upon comprehensive data gained through open and transparent engagement

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of veterans' stakeholders;

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     (2) Produce veteran-centric policies and procedures informed by forward looking

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planning;

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     (3) Realistically assess resource adequacy and capabilities delivered;

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     (4) Ensure that existing resources are aligned to mission critical objectives;

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     (5) Compliment, as well as leverage, existing US Veterans' Administration programs and

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best practices;

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     (6) Foster state, federal and private partnerships that seamlessly deliver exceptional

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services to the state's veteran population; and

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     (7) More effectively coordinate the delivery of veterans' services to all current and future

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veterans in Rhode Island.

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     30-17.1-12. Meeting and reporting requirements for the advisory committee. -- (a)

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The advisory committee shall meet regularly, on a quarterly basis and at the call of the

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chairperson or three (3) committee members.

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     (b) The advisory committee shall provide a copy of the veterans' services strategic plan

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"VSSP" to the senate president, speaker of the house, senate fiscal advisor and house fiscal

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advisor one year after the enactment of this act.

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     (c) The advisory committee shall report annually to the governor and the general

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assembly, no later than April of each year, on the progress made in achieving the goals and

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objectives set forth and any other pertinent information.

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     (d) The advisory committee shall update the "VSSP" every five (5) years and provide a

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copy of the plan to the senate president, speaker of the house, and senate and house fiscal

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advisors.

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     (e) The advisory committee shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 38-2, access to

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public records act, and chapter 42-46, open meetings act.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01821/SUB B

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS'

AFFAIRS

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     This act would create a twelve (12) member veterans' services strategic plan advisory

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committee that would be responsible for developing, maintaining and annually updating a five (5)

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year statewide Veterans' Services Strategic Plan ("VSSP"), that includes goals and measurable

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outcomes to ensure that all departments deliver comprehensive services and supports for veterans

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and their families.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01821/SUB B

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