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VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMISSION

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AMENDMENTS

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2024 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Jefferson S. Burton

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Senate Sponsor: Todd D. Weiler

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8     LONG TITLE
9     Committee Note:
10          The Government Operations Interim Committee recommended this bill.
11               Legislative Vote:     11 voting for     0 voting against     5 absent
12     General Description:
13          This bill amends provisions relating to the Veterans and Military Affairs Commission.
14     Highlighted Provisions:
15          This bill:
16          ▸     extends the sunset date of the Veterans and Military Affairs Commission; and
17          ▸     makes technical changes.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     AMENDS:
24          36-28-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 78
25          63I-1-236, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 112, 139, 228, and 475
26     

27     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28          Section 1. Section 36-28-102 is amended to read:
29          36-28-102. Veterans and Military Affairs Commission -- Creation -- Membership
30     -- Chairs -- Terms -- Per diem and expenses.
31          (1) There is created the Veterans and Military Affairs Commission.
32          (2) The commission membership is composed of [19] 18 permanent members, but may
33     not exceed [24] 23 members, and is as follows:
34          (a) five legislative members to be appointed as follows:
35          (i) three members from the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the
36     House of Representatives, no more than two of whom may be from the same political party;
37     and
38          (ii) two members from the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate, no more
39     than one of whom may be from the same political party;
40          (b) the executive director of the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs or the
41     director's designee;
42          (c) the chair of the Utah Veterans Advisory Council;
43          (d) the executive director of the Department of Workforce Services or the director's
44     designee;
45          (e) the executive director of the Department of Health and Human Services or the
46     director's designee;
47          [(f) the executive director of the Department of Human Services or the director's
48     designee;]
49          [(g)] (f) the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard or the adjutant general's
50     designee;
51          [(h)] (g) the Guard and Reserve Transition Assistance Advisor;
52          [(i)] (h) a member of the Utah Board of Higher Education or that member's designee;
53          [(j)] (i) three representatives of veteran service organizations recommended by the
54     Veterans Advisory Council and confirmed by the commission;
55          [(k)] (j) one member of the Executive Committee of the Utah Defense Alliance;
56          [(l)] (k) one military affairs representative from a chamber of commerce member,
57     appointed by the Utah State Chamber of Commerce; and
58          [(m)] (l) a representative from the Veterans Health Administration.
59          (3) The commission may appoint by majority vote of the entire commission up to five
60     pro tempore members, representing:
61          (a) state or local government agencies;
62          (b) interest groups concerned with veterans issues; or
63          (c) the general public.
64          (4) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
65     under Subsection (2)(a) as a cochair of the commission.
66          (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
67     of Representatives appointed under Subsection (2)(a) as a cochair of the commission.
68          (5) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The
69     action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the commission.
70          (6) The term for each pro tempore member appointed in accordance with Subsection
71     (3) shall be two years from July 1 of the year of appointment. A pro tempore member may not
72     serve more than three terms.
73          (7) If a member leaves office or is unable to serve, the vacancy shall be filled as it was
74     originally appointed. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under Subsection (6) serves the
75     remaining unexpired term of the member being replaced. If the remaining unexpired term is
76     less than six months, the newly appointed member shall be reappointed on July 1. The time
77     served until July 1 is not counted in the restriction set forth in Subsection (6).
78          (8) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service but
79     may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
80          (a) Section 63A-3-106;
81          (b) Section 63A-3-107; and
82          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
83     63A-3-107.
84          (9) Salaries and expenses of the members of the commission who are legislators shall
85     be paid in accordance with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Chapter 3,
86     Legislator Compensation.
87          Section 2. Section 63I-1-236 is amended to read:
88          63I-1-236. Repeal dates: Title 36.
89          (1) Title 36, Chapter 17, Legislative Process Committee, is repealed January 1, 2028.
90          (2) Title 36, Chapter 28, Veterans and Military Affairs Commission, is repealed
91     January 1, [2025] 2030.
92          (3) Section 36-29-108, Criminal Code Evaluation Task Force, is repealed July 1, 2028.
93          (4) Section 36-29-112, Justice Court Reform Task Force, is repealed July 1, 2025.
94          Section 3. Effective date.
95          This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.