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VETERANS' AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMISSION

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AMENDMENTS

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2016 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Paul Ray

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Senate Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill modifies the membership of the Veterans' and Military Affairs Commission.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     removes the representative from the Administrative Office of the Courts; and
14          ▸     adds a member of the general public to the list from which the commission may
15     select pro tempore members.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          This bill provides a special effective date.
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          36-28-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 150
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 36-28-102 is amended to read:
26          36-28-102. Veterans' and Military Affairs Commission -- Creation -- Membership
27     -- Chairs -- Terms -- Per diem and expenses.
28          (1) There is created the Veterans' and Military Affairs Commission.
29          (2) The commission membership is composed of [19] 18 permanent members, but may
30     not exceed 23 members, and is as follows:
31          (a) five legislative members to be appointed as follows:
32          (i) three members from the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the
33     House of Representatives, no more than two of whom may be from the same political party;
34     and
35          (ii) two members from the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate, no more
36     than one of whom may be from the same political party;
37          (b) the executive director of the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs or the
38     director's designee;
39          (c) the chair of the Utah Veterans' Advisory Council;
40          (d) the executive director of the Department of Workforce Services or the director's
41     designee;
42          (e) the executive director of the Department of Health or the director's designee;
43          (f) the executive director of the Department of Human Services or the director's
44     designee;
45          [(g) a representative from the Administrative Office of the Courts who is
46     knowledgeable in court services appointed by the Judicial Council;]
47          [(h)] (g) a representative from the Utah National Guard appointed by the adjutant
48     general;
49          [(i)] (h) the Guard and Reserve Transition Assistance Advisor; [and]
50          [(j)] (i) a representative from the Board of Regents;
51          [(k)] (j) three representatives of veteran service organizations as recommended by the
52     Veterans Advisory Council;
53          [(l)] (k) one representative from the Utah Defense Alliance; and
54          [(m)] (l) one military affairs representative from a chamber of commerce recommended
55     by the Utah State Chamber of Commerce.
56          (3) The commission may appoint by majority vote of the entire commission up to [four
57     representatives of] five pro tempore members, representing:
58          (a) state [and] or local government agencies [or];
59          (b) interest groups [the commission feels necessary to complete its duties.] concerned
60     with veterans issues; or
61          (c) the general public.
62          (4) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
63     under Subsection (2)(a) as a cochair of the commission.
64          (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
65     of Representatives appointed under Subsection (2)(a) as a cochair of the commission.
66          (5) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The
67     action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the commission.
68          (6) The term for each [commission] pro tempore member appointed in accordance with
69     Subsection (3) shall be two years from the date of appointment. A pro tempore member may
70     not serve more than three terms.
71          (7) If a member leaves office or is unable to serve, the vacancy shall be filled as it was
72     originally appointed. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under this section does not serve the
73     remaining unexpired term of the member being replaced but begins serving a new term.
74          (8) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service but
75     may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
76          (a) Section 63A-3-106;
77          (b) Section 63A-3-107; and
78          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
79     63A-3-107.
80          Section 2. Effective date.
81          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
82     upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
83     Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
84     the date of veto override.