PRINTER'S NO. 577
No. 527 Session of 1983
INTRODUCED BY JUBELIRER, HELFRICK, SNYDER, O'PAKE, PECORA,
O'CONNELL, SHAFFER, STOUT, WENGER, KUSSE, BELL AND REIBMAN,
MARCH 22, 1983
REFERRED TO MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, MARCH 22, 1983
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, changing provisions relating to the
3 State Veterans' Commission.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 705. State Veterans' Commission.
9 (a) Commission continued.--There is hereby continued within
10 the Department of Military Affairs a State Veterans' Commission
11 which shall serve as an advisory council to the department and
12 the Adjutant General on all matters pertaining to veterans'
13 affairs.
14 (b) Membership.--The commission shall consist of 16 members
15 and the Adjutant General, or his designee, who shall serve ex
16 officio. The State commander, commandant or head, or his
17 designee, of the following named veterans' organizations shall
18 serve as members of the commission: The American Legion, AMVETS,
1 Blinded Veterans Association, Catholic War Veterans of the
2 United States of America, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War
3 Veterans of the United States, Marine Corps League, Military
4 Order of the Purple Heart, State Association of County Directors
5 of Veterans' Affairs and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
6 States and Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc. In
7 addition, the Governor shall appoint five members-at-large to
8 the commission, each of whom shall be a veteran and a member in
9 good and regular standing of a Pennsylvania branch, post, lodge
10 or club of a recognized national veterans' organization active
11 in this Commonwealth and at least one of whom shall be a female
12 veteran and at least one of whom shall be a veteran of the
13 Vietnam era. The members-at-large shall serve for terms of four
14 years and until their successors shall have been appointed. The
15 initial five members-at-large appointed by the Governor shall be
16 as follows: Two members for four years, one member for three
17 years, one member for two years and one member for one year, as
18 designated by the Governor.
19 (c) Officers.--The commission shall elect a chairman and a
20 vice chairman annually at the first meeting of the commission
21 after October 1. The Director of the Bureau for Veterans'
22 Affairs shall serve as executive secretary to the commission.
23 (d) Vacancy.--The Governor, upon recommendation of the
24 Adjutant General, shall declare a vacancy to exist whenever any
25 member-at-large fails to attend three consecutive meetings
26 without good cause and shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired
27 term.
28 (e) Meetings and quorum.--The commission shall meet upon
29 call of the chairman or the Adjutant General. Nine members of
30 the commission shall constitute a quorum.
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1 (f) Compensation and expenses.--Members of the commission
2 shall receive no compensation for their services but shall
3 receive reimbursement for their necessary and proper expenses
4 for their attendance at meetings.
5 (g) Duties.--The commission shall advise the Adjutant
6 General and the department on all matters pertaining to the
7 status, welfare, benefits, employment and support of veterans
8 and veterans' programs in this Commonwealth and shall perform
9 such other functions as are provided by law.
10 Section 2. Section 448(b) of the act of April 9, 1929
11 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, is
12 repealed.
13 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 1983.
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