2017 -- S 0541

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LC001766

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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 - RHODE ISLAND VETERANS'

HOME - ADVISORY COUNCIL

     

     Introduced By: Senators Seveney, and Felag

     Date Introduced: March 09, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     (Office of Veterans Affairs)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 30-24-3, 30-24-4 and 30-24-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-

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24 entitled "Rhode Island Veterans' Home" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     30-24-3. Administrator -- Advisory council.

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     (a) The director of human services veterans affairs shall appoint an administrator for the

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Rhode Island veterans' home who shall be an honorably discharged war veteran of the United

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States Armed Forces.

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     (b) There shall be an advisory council for veterans' affairs, consisting of not more than

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twenty-seven (27) fifteen (15) qualified electors of this state, ten (10) of whom shall be honorably

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discharged war veterans of the armed forces of the United States; sixteen (16) twelve (12) of the

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members shall be appointed by the governor, consisting of a member designated by each of the

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various state departments of the active federally-chartered veteran organizations, one of whom

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shall be a member of the purple heart organization, and the remaining member or members at

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large; provided, however, that each of those departments of veteran organizations shall have, and

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continue to have, at least one member on the advisory council for veterans' affairs; and, provided

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further, that one member shall be a female veteran, one member shall be a minority veteran;, one

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member shall be a representative of the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Association, and one member

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shall be a representative of the Korean War Veterans' Association; seven (7) members; shall

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consist of five (5) one members member of the house of representatives, not more than four (4)

 

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members from the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of

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representatives, and two (2) one members member from the senate, not more than one from the

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same political party, to be appointed by the president of the senate. The seven (7) members of the

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general assembly who shall serve on the advisory council for veterans' affairs shall serve so long

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as they are members of the general assembly.

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     (b) The remaining members shall be one former representative having served at least five

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(5) years on the advisory council, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives,

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and one former senator having served at least five (5) years on the advisory council, to be

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appointed by the president of the senate. If either of the last two (2) mentioned are not available,

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the selections may be members at-large selected from the general public; provided, further, the

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immediate past chief of veterans' affairs shall serve as ex-officio of the veterans' council with

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voting privileges for a period of five (5) years and may be reappointed for an additional term by

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the governor. The final remaining member shall be an active National Guard person to be

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appointed by the state adjutant general.

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     30-24-4. Appointments to advisory council -- Organization and meetings.

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     Annually, on or before July 1, the governor shall appoint a successor of each member of

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the advisory council whose term expires, these appointments to be for a term of three (3) years.

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Provided, however, that a former state representative or senator having served at least five (5)

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years on the advisory council shall be appointed for a term of at least five (5) years. In case of any

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vacancy or additional members on the council, the governor shall appoint a new member for the

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unexpired portion of the term of that membership as hereinbefore provided. Members of the

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council shall serve without pay. The advisory council shall elect one of its members to serve as

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chairperson for a period of one year and until a successor is elected and qualified. Meetings shall

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be held at the call of the chairperson; provided, however, that a majority of the members may call

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a meeting of the advisory council at any time, all members being notified in any case by mail and

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reasonably in advance of any such meetings. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum for

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the transaction of business. The governor may remove a member of the council for neglect of

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duty. Secretarial service Administrative support for the council shall be provided by the director

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of veterans affairs the department of human services. Provided, further, the immediate past chief

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of veterans' affairs shall serve as ex-officio of the veterans' council with voting privileges for a

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period of five (5) years and may be reappointed for an additional term by the governor.

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     30-24-5. Functions of advisory council.

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     The advisory council for veterans' affairs shall exercise and perform all the duties and

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functions formerly exercised and performed by the advisory council for the Rhode Island

 

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veterans' home. The advisory council for the Rhode Island veterans' home is hereby abolished.

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The advisory council for veterans' affairs shall make suggestions to and shall advise the director

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of the office of veterans' affairs and the administrator of the veterans' home concerning the

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policies, rules, and the regulations of the Rhode Island veterans' home; provided, however, that

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the advisory council shall have no administrative power.

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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 - RHODE ISLAND VETERANS'

HOME - ADVISORY COUNCIL

***

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     This act would reduce the number of advisory council members from twenty-seven (27)

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to fifteen (15) and would eliminate the duty of the advisory council to advise the administrator of

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the veterans' home.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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