2017 -- H 6315

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- VETERANS' AFFAIRS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Phillips, Shanley, Jacquard, and
Ackerman

     Date Introduced: June 08, 2017

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 30-17.1-9, 30-17.1-10, 30-17.1-11 and 30-17.1-12 of the General

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Laws in Chapter 30-17.1 entitled "Veterans' Affairs" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     30-17.1-9. Definitions.

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     When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

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

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as established in § 30-17.1-10.

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     (2) "Committee" means the veterans' committee pursuant to the provisions of § 30-17.1-

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11(c).

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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 office of veterans' affairs;

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     (ii) The division of planning Rhode Island public transit authority;

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     (iii) The department of human services;

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     (iv) The Rhode Island board of education office of post-secondary 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 Rhode Island veteran's court;

 

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     (x) The department of labor and training;

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     (xi) The Rhode Island commerce corporation; and

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     (xii) The office of the secretary of state.; and

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     (xiii) The Rode Island national guard.

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     (4) "Veterans' services strategic plan ("VSSP')" means the strategic plan as established in

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§ 30-17.1-11.

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

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     (a) There is hereby created a veterans' services strategic plan advisory committee known

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as "the Rhode Island veterans' services strategic plan advisory committee" consisting of thirteen

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(13) fourteen (14) members as follows:

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

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designee, who shall serve as 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;

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     (3) One of whom shall be the associate executive director of the public transit authority

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division of planning, or his or her designee;

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     (4) One of whom shall be the chair of the Rhode Island board of education post-

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secondary education commissioner, or his or her 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 the 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 chief judge of the district court, or his or

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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 Rhode Island commerce 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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     (13) One of whom shall be the adjutant general of the Rhode Island national guard, or his

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or her designee.; and

 

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     (14) One of whom shall be a representative for Rhode Island municipal governments.

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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 office 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.

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     (a) The advisory committee acting through the office of veterans' affairs, shall work in

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conjunction with the department of human services to develop, maintain and annually update a

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five-year (5) statewide veterans' services strategic plan ("VSSP") that includes goals and

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measurable outcomes to ensure that all departments deliver comprehensive services and supports

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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 Living in poverty;

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     (2) Employment opportunities Disability benefits;

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     (3) Veteran-owned small business growth Employment and training;

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     (4) Educational attainment Education;

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     (5) Job skills training Family members and caregivers;

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     (6) Behavioral health Financial planning;

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     (7) Long-term health care options Homelessness;

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     (8) Criminal justice issues Legal services; and

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     (9) Homelessness. Long-term care;

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     (10) Mortuary affairs;

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     (11) Healthcare;

 

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     (12) Transitional assistance; and

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     (13) Transportation.

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

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of the committee shall consult regularly with veterans and community groups that, representing

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represent diverse interests and viewpoints and the federal department of veterans' affairs, that

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shall provide to receive input to the advisory committee on all matters pertaining to the

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preparation or implementation of the veterans' services strategic plan. The committee shall

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receive administrative support from the departments and the members shall not receive

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compensation for their service. The committee shall meet at least quarterly and at the call of the

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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 U.S. Veterans' Administration programs

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and 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.

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     (a) The advisory committee shall meet regularly on a quarterly an annual basis and at the

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call of the 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 amendment 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. A progress update of the "VSSP" in the

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office of veterans affairs annual report will satisfy this requirement.

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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 § 38-2-1 et seq., Access

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to Public Records Act, and § 42-46-1 et seq., Open Meetings Act.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- VETERANS' AFFAIRS

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     This act would provide for amendments to the veterans' services strategic plan advisory

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committee to provide effective support for veterans and to collaborate and coordinate existing

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state, federal, and private veterans' services to meet and exceed the needs and expectations of

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Rhode Island veterans and their families.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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