2019 -- H 5791

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LC001989

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- RHODE ISLAND VETERANS'

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     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Fellela, Serpa, Casimiro, and Solomon

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2019

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

     (a) The director of veterans' affairs shall appoint an administrator for the Rhode Island

veterans' home who shall be an honorably discharged war veteran of the United States Armed

Forces.

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

fifteen (15) qualified electors of this state, ten (10) of whom shall be honorably discharged

veterans of the armed forces of the United States; twelve (12) of the members shall be appointed

by the governor, consisting of a member designated by each of the various state departments of

the active federally chartered veteran organizations, and the remaining member or members at

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

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

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

member of the house of representatives two (2) members shall be veterans-at-large, one to be

appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one member from the senate, to be

appointed by the president of the senate. The members of the general assembly who shall serve

on the advisory council for veterans' affairs shall serve so long as they are members of the general

assembly. The final remaining member shall be an active National Guard person to be appointed

by the state adjutant general.

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

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

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

case of any vacancy or additional members on the council, the governor shall appoint a new

member for the unexpired portion of the term of that membership as hereinbefore provided.

Members of the council shall serve without pay. The advisory council, at the January meeting of

the council each year, shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson and one of its

members to serve as vice chairperson for a period of one year and until a successor is elected and

qualified. Meetings shall be held at the call of the chairperson; provided, however, that a majority

of the members may call a meeting of the advisory council at any time, all members being

notified in any case by mail and reasonably in advance of any such meetings. A majority of

members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The governor may remove a

member of the council for neglect of duty. Administrative support for the council shall be

provided by the director of veterans' affairs.

     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'

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     This act would amend the composition of the advisory council for veterans' affairs by

replacing members of the general assembly serving as members of the council and would replace

them with veterans-at-large.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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