2017 -- S 0816

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LC002554

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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: Senators Felag, DiPalma, Seveney, Lombardo, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: April 25, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

     30-17.1-9. Definitions.

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

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

as established in § 30-17.1-10.

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

11(c).

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

for Rhode Island veterans and their families including:

     (i) The office of veterans' affairs;

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

     (iii) The department of human services;

     (iv) The Rhode Island board of education office of post-secondary education;

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

     (vi) The department of health;

     (vii) The division of elderly affairs;

     (viii) The department of business regulation;

     (ix) The department of the attorney general Rhode Island veteran's court;

     (x) The department of labor and training;

     (xi) The Rhode Island commerce corporation; and

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

     (xiii) The Rode Island national guard.

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

§ 30-17.1-11.

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

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

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

(13) fourteen (14) members as follows:

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

designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

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

designee;

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

division of planning, or his or her designee;

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

secondary education commissioner, or his or her designee;

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

developmental disabilities and hospitals, or his or her designee;

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

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

designee;

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

her designee;

     (9) One of whom shall be the attorney general chief judge of the district court, or his or

her designee;

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

her designee;

     (11) One of whom shall be the director of the Rhode Island commerce corporation, or his

or her designee;

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

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

or her designee.; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

provide suitable quarters and staff for the advisory committee.

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

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

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

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

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

themselves more than once after January 1, 2016.

     30-17.1-11. The duties of the committee.

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

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

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

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

for veterans and their families.

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

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

     (1) Access to benefits Living in poverty;

     (2) Employment opportunities Disability benefits;

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

     (4) Educational attainment Education;

     (5) Job skills training Family members and caregivers;

     (6) Behavioral health Financial planning;

     (7) Long-term health care options Homelessness;

     (8) Criminal justice issues Legal services; and

     (9) Homelessness. Long-term care;

     (10) Mortuary affairs;

     (11) Healthcare;

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     (12) Transitional assistance; and

     (13) Transportation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     (d) The "VSSP" shall:

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

of veterans' stakeholders;

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

planning;

     (3) Realistically assess resource adequacy and capabilities delivered;

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

     (5) Compliment, as well as leverage, existing U.S. Veterans' Administration programs

and best practices;

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

services to the state's veteran population; and

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

veterans in Rhode Island.

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

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

call of the chairperson or three (3) committee members.

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

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

advisor one year after the enactment of amendment of this act.

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

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

objectives set forth and any other pertinent information. A progress update of the "VSSP" in the

office of veterans affairs annual report will satisfy this requirement.

     (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

advisors.

     (e) The advisory committee shall be subject to the provisions of § 38-2-1 et seq., Access

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

     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

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

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

Rhode Island veterans and their families.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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