1     
VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMISSION

2     
AMENDMENTS

3     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Paul Ray

6     
Senate Sponsor: Todd D. Weiler

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill amends provisions related to the Veterans and Military Affairs Commission.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     allows for members of the commission who are legislators to be paid salaries and
14     expenses.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     AMENDS:
21          36-28-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 365
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 36-28-102 is amended to read:
25          36-28-102. Veterans and Military Affairs Commission -- Creation -- Membership
26     -- Chairs -- Terms -- Per diem and expenses.
27          (1) There is created the Veterans and Military Affairs Commission.
28          (2) The commission membership is composed of 19 permanent members, but may not
29     exceed 24 members, and is as follows:

30          (a) five legislative members to be appointed as follows:
31          (i) three members from the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the
32     House of Representatives, no more than two of whom may be from the same political party;
33     and
34          (ii) two members from the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate, no more
35     than one of whom may be from the same political party;
36          (b) the executive director of the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs or the
37     director's designee;
38          (c) the chair of the Utah Veterans Advisory Council;
39          (d) the executive director of the Department of Workforce Services or the director's
40     designee;
41          (e) the executive director of the Department of Health or the director's designee;
42          (f) the executive director of the Department of Human Services or the director's
43     designee;
44          (g) the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard or the adjutant general's designee;
45          (h) the Guard and Reserve Transition Assistance Advisor;
46          (i) a member of the Utah Board of Higher Education or that member's designee;
47          (j) three representatives of veteran service organizations recommended by the Veterans
48     Advisory Council and confirmed by the commission;
49          (k) one member of the Executive Committee of the Utah Defense Alliance;
50          (l) one military affairs representative from a chamber of commerce member, appointed
51     by the Utah State Chamber of Commerce; and
52          (m) a representative from the Veterans Health Administration.
53          (3) The commission may appoint by majority vote of the entire commission up to five
54     pro tempore members, representing:
55          (a) state or local government agencies;
56          (b) interest groups concerned with veterans issues; or
57          (c) the general public.

58          (4) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
59     under Subsection (2)(a) as a cochair of the commission.
60          (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
61     of Representatives appointed under Subsection (2)(a) as a cochair of the commission.
62          (5) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The
63     action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the commission.
64          (6) The term for each pro tempore member appointed in accordance with Subsection
65     (3) shall be two years from July 1 of the year of appointment. A pro tempore member may not
66     serve more than three terms.
67          (7) If a member leaves office or is unable to serve, the vacancy shall be filled as it was
68     originally appointed. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under Subsection (6) serves the
69     remaining unexpired term of the member being replaced. If the remaining unexpired term is
70     less than six months, the newly appointed member shall be reappointed on July 1. The time
71     served until July 1 is not counted in the restriction set forth in Subsection (6).
72          (8) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service but
73     may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
74          (a) Section 63A-3-106;
75          (b) Section 63A-3-107; and
76          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
77     63A-3-107.
78          (9) Salaries and expenses of the members of the commission who are legislators shall
79     be paid in accordance with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Chapter 3,
80     Legislator Compensation.