S.B. 96 Enrolled

             1     

VETERANS' ASSISTANCE REGISTRY

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Karen Mayne

             5     
House Sponsor: Tim M. Cosgrove

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill creates a registry process at the Utah Department of Veterans' and Military
             10      Affairs that provides contact information to donors of materials and labor for veterans
             11      and their dependents.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    directs the department to develop a donor and recipient registry;
             15          .    involves the Veterans' Advisory Council in determining qualifications for
             16      participation in the registry and for providing information to donors and recipients;
             17          .    limits who may see donors' and recipients' information;
             18          .    requires the registry to be listed on the department's website;
             19          .    provides immunity for use of the registry;
             20          .    requires data tracking of registry donors and recipients, and summary data to be
             21      included in the department's annual report; and
             22          .    makes technical corrections.
             23      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             24          None
             25      Other Special Clauses:
             26          None
             27      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             28      AMENDS:
             29           71-8-3 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 214 and 308


             30           71-8-4 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 214
             31      ENACTS:
             32           71-12-101 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33           71-12-102 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34           71-12-103 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35           71-12-104 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36     
             37      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             38          Section 1. Section 71-8-3 is amended to read:
             39           71-8-3. Duties of executive director -- Services to veterans.
             40          The executive director shall:
             41          (1) be responsible for the administration and the operation or support of the following
             42      veteran-related operations:
             43          (a) Utah State Veterans' Nursing Homes and Programs;
             44          (b) Utah State Veterans' Cemetery and Memorial Park;
             45          (c) Title 71, Chapter 10, Veteran's Preference;
             46          (d) any locally or federally funded programs for homeless veterans within the state; and
             47          (e) any federally funded education services for veterans within the state;
             48          (2) maintain liaison with local, state, and federal veterans' agencies and with Utah
             49      veterans' organizations;
             50          (3) provide current information so that veterans, their surviving spouses and family
             51      members, and Utah veterans' organizations will be aware of benefits to which they are, or may
             52      become, entitled;
             53          (4) reach out and assist veterans and their families in applying for benefits and
             54      services;
             55          (5) develop and maintain a system for determining how many veterans are employed
             56      by the various government entities within the state and keeping track of them;
             57          (6) cooperate with other state entities in the receipt of information to create and


             58      maintain a record of veterans in Utah;
             59          (7) create and administer a veterans' assistance registry, with recommendations from
             60      the council, that will provide contact information to the qualified donors of materials and labor
             61      for certain qualified recipients;
             62          [(7)] (8) prepare an annual report for presentation not later than November 30 of each
             63      year to the Government Operations Interim Committee [on], which includes:
             64          (a) all services provided to veterans; [and]
             65          (b) all services provided by third parties through the Veterans' Assistance Registry; and
             66          [(b)] (c) the coordination of veterans' services by government entities with the
             67      department;
             68          [(8)] (9) advise the governor on matters pertaining to military affairs throughout Utah,
             69      including active duty servicemembers, reserve duty servicemembers, and veterans;
             70          [(9)] (10) identify military-related issues, challenges, and opportunities, and develop
             71      plans for addressing them;
             72          [(10)] (11) develop, coordinate, and maintain relationships with military leaders of
             73      Utah military installations, including the Utah National Guard;
             74          [(11)] (12) develop, coordinate, and maintain relationships with Utah's congressional
             75      delegation and military staffers;
             76          [(12)] (13) develop and maintain relationships with military-related organizations in
             77      Utah;
             78          [(13)] (14) conduct forums and meetings with stakeholders to identify military issues
             79      and challenges and to develop solutions to them; and
             80          [(14)] (15) perform other related duties as requested by the governor.
             81          Section 2. Section 71-8-4 is amended to read:
             82           71-8-4. Veterans' Advisory Council -- Membership -- Duties and responsibilities
             83      -- Per diem and travel expenses.
             84          (1) There is created a Veterans' Advisory Council whose purpose is to advise the
             85      executive director of the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs on issues relating to


             86      veterans.
             87          (2) The council shall consist of the following 14 members:
             88          (a) 11 voting members to serve four-year terms:
             89          (i) seven veterans at large appointed by the governor;
             90          (ii) the commander or the commander's designee, whose terms shall last for as long as
             91      they hold that office, from each of the following organizations:
             92          (A) Veterans of Foreign Wars;
             93          (B) American Legion; and
             94          (C) Disabled American Veterans; and
             95          (iii) a representative from the Office of the Governor; and
             96          (b) three nonvoting members:
             97          (i) the executive director of the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs;
             98          (ii) the director of the VA Health Care System or his designee; and
             99          (iii) the director of the VA Benefits Administration Regional Office in Salt Lake City,
             100      or his designee.
             101          (3) (a) Except as required by Subsection (3)(b), as terms of current council members
             102      expire, the governor shall appoint each new or reappointed member to a four-year term
             103      commencing on July 1.
             104          (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (3)(a), the governor shall, at the
             105      time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of
             106      council members are staggered so that approximately half of the members appointed by the
             107      governor are appointed every two years.
             108          (4) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the governor shall
             109      appoint a replacement for the unexpired term within 60 days of receiving notice.
             110          (5) Members appointed by the governor may not serve more than three consecutive
             111      terms.
             112          (6) (a) Any veterans' group or veteran may provide the executive director with a list of
             113      recommendations for members on the council.


             114          (b) The executive director shall provide the governor with the list of recommendations
             115      for members to be appointed to the council.
             116          (c) The governor shall make final appointments to the council by June 30 of any year in
             117      which appointments are to be made under this chapter.
             118          (7) The council shall elect a chair and vice chair from among the council members
             119      every two years. The chair and vice chair shall be veterans.
             120          (8) (a) The council shall meet at least once every quarter.
             121          (b) The executive director of the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs may
             122      convene additional meetings, as necessary.
             123          (9) The department shall provide staff to the council.
             124          (10) Six voting members are a quorum for the transaction of business.
             125          (11) The council shall:
             126          (a) solicit input concerning veterans issues from veterans' groups throughout the state;
             127          (b) report issues received to the executive director of the Department of Veterans' and
             128      Military Affairs and make recommendations concerning them;
             129          (c) keep abreast of federal developments that affect veterans locally and advise the
             130      executive director of them; [and]
             131          (d) approve, by a majority vote, the use of money generated from veterans' license
             132      plates under Section 41-1a-422 for veterans' programs[.]; and
             133          (e) assist the director in developing guidelines and qualifications for:
             134          (i) participation by donors and recipients in the Veterans' Assistance Registry created
             135      in Section 71-12-101 ; and
             136          (ii) developing a process for providing contact information between qualified donors
             137      and recipients.
             138          (12) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
             139      may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
             140          (a) Section 63A-3-106 ;
             141          (b) Section 63A-3-107 ; and


             142          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
             143      63A-3-107 .
             144          Section 3. Section 71-12-101 is enacted to read:
             145     
CHAPTER 12. VETERANS' ASSISTANCE REGISTRY

             146          71-12-101. Title.
             147          This chapter is known as the "Veterans' Assistance Registry."
             148          Section 4. Section 71-12-102 is enacted to read:
             149          71-12-102. Definitions.
             150          As used in this chapter:
             151          (1) "Council" means the Veterans' Advisory Council as created in Section 71-8-4 .
             152          (2) "Department" means the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs as created in
             153      Section 71-8-2 .
             154          (3) "Donor" means an individual or entity that provides material goods, services, or
             155      labor without charge to veterans in accordance with this chapter.
             156          (4) "Recipient" means a veteran as defined in Section 71-8-1 , or a veteran's dependent
             157      spouse and children.
             158          Section 5. Section 71-12-103 is enacted to read:
             159          71-12-103. Veterans' Assistance Registry.
             160          (1) There is created within the department a Veterans' Assistance Registry.
             161          (2) The intent of the registry is to provide contact information to qualified donors of
             162      material goods, services, and labor for qualified recipients in need of specific goods, services,
             163      or labor.
             164          (3) The department shall, in consultation with the council:
             165          (a) create a database of donors and recipients;
             166          (b) develop an electronic link on the department's website to the database of donors
             167      and recipients;
             168          (c) insure that information provided by donors and recipients is only used for the
             169      intended purpose as specified in Subsection (2) and not made public;


             170          (d) provide instructions online for donors and recipients to use in registering for the
             171      registry;
             172          (e) publicize through both local and nationwide veterans' service organizations and the
             173      United States Veterans' Administration the availability of the registry; and
             174          (f) track usage of and report annually on the registry program in accordance with
             175      Section 71-8-3.
             176          Section 6. Section 71-12-104 is enacted to read:
             177          71-12-104. Immunity for use of registry.
             178          A donor who provides material goods, services, or labor for registry recipients is
             179      considered to be acting on behalf of the department in accordance with the provisions of Title
             180      63G, Chapter 8, Part 2, Immunity for Voluntary Services.


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