71-8-4.   Veterans' Advisory Council -- Membership -- Duties and responsibilities -- Per diem and expenses.
     (1) There is created a Veterans' Advisory Council whose purpose is to advise the executive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs on issues relating to veterans.
     (2) The council shall consist of eleven voting members and one nonvoting member, designated as follows:
     (a) five members appointed by the governor to serve four-year terms:
     (i) four veterans at large; and
     (ii) a representative from the Office of the Governor;
     (b) the director of the VA Health Care System or his designee;
     (c) the director of the VA Benefits Administration Regional Office in Salt Lake City, or his designee;
     (d) a representative from the Veterans' Memorial Park Board for the duration of his appointment to the board;
     (e) the commanders or their designees of the three largest veterans service organizations in the state. Their terms shall last as long as they hold the required office; and
     (f) the executive director shall be a nonvoting member of the council.
     (3) (a) Except as required by Subsection (3)(b), as terms of current council members expire, the governor shall appoint each new or reappointed member to a four-year term commencing on July 1.
     (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (3)(a), the governor shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of council members are staggered so that approximately half of the members appointed by the governor are appointed every two years.
     (4) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the governor shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term within 60 days of receiving notice.
     (5) Members appointed by the governor may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
     (6) (a) Any veterans' group or veteran may provide the executive director with a list of recommendations for members on the council.
     (b) The executive director shall provide the governor with the list of recommendations for members to be appointed to the council.
     (c) The governor shall make final appointments to the council by June 30 of any year in which appointments are to be made under this chapter.
     (7) The council shall elect a chair from among its members every two years. The chair shall be a veteran.
     (8) (a) The council shall meet at least once every quarter.
     (b) The executive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs may convene additional meetings, as necessary.
     (9) The department shall provide staff to the council.
     (10) Six voting members are a quorum for the transaction of business.
     (11) The council shall:
     (a) solicit input concerning veterans issues from veterans' groups throughout the state;
     (b) report issues received to the executive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs and make recommendations concerning them;
     (c) keep abreast of federal developments that affect veterans locally and advise the

executive director of them; and
     (d) approve, by a majority vote, the use of monies generated from veterans' license plates under Section 41-1a-422 for veterans' programs.
     (12) (a) Members shall receive no compensation or benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.
     (b) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.

Amended by Chapter 173, 2007 General Session
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Last revised: Thursday, May 28, 2009