PRINTER'S NO. 3313
No. 2525 Session of 1980
INTRODUCED BY SCHEAFFER, DeMEDIO, CIMINI, GRIECO, W. W. FOSTER,
E. G. JOHNSON, MANMILLER, COLE AND MOWERY, MAY 7, 1980
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS,
MAY 7, 1980
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
2 "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
3 executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
4 Executive Department thereof and the administrative
5 departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
6 including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
7 Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
8 authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
9 departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
10 duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
11 officers, and of the several administrative departments,
12 boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
13 Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
14 and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
15 certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
16 other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
17 and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the
18 number and compensation of the deputies and all other
19 assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and
20 commissions shall be determined," providing for the
21 continuation, composition and functions of the State
22 Veterans' Commission.
23 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
24 hereby enacts as follows:
25 Section 1. Clause (b) of section 448, act of April 9, 1929
26 (P.L.177, No.175), known as "The Administrative Code of 1929,"
27 amended June 1, 1978 (P.L.449, No.55), is amended to read:
1 Section 448. Advisory Boards and Commissions.--The advisory
2 boards and commissions, within the several administrative
3 departments, shall be constituted as follows:
4 [(b) The State Veterans' Commission shall consist of the
5 Adjutant General, ex officio, and fourteen members, all of whom
6 shall have served in the armed forces of the United States while
7 a state of war or armed conflict existed between the United
8 States of America and another sovereign power, and shall be
9 members in good and regular standing of a Pennsylvania branch,
10 post, lodge, or club, of a recognized national veterans'
11 organization active in this Commonwealth.
12 The Governor, upon recommendation of the Adjutant General,
13 shall declare a vacancy to exist whenever any member shall fail
14 to attend three consecutive meetings, and shall fill the vacancy
15 for the unexpired term.
16 Three members of the fourteen shall be considered members-at-
17 large and shall be approved by the Governor and appointed for
18 terms of four years.
19 Eight members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
20 The commission shall select from its number a chairman and a
21 secretary.]
22 (b) There is hereby continued within the Department of
23 Military Affairs a State Veterans' Commission, which shall serve
24 as an advisory council to the department and the Adjutant
25 General on all matters pertaining to veterans' affairs to be
26 constituted as follows:
27 (1) The commission shall consist of sixteen (16) members and
28 the Adjutant General, or his designee, who shall serve ex
29 officio. The State commander, commandant or head, or his
30 designee, of the following named veterans' organizations shall
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1 serve as members of the commission: The American Legion, AMVETS,
2 Blinded Veterans Association, Catholic War Veterans of the
3 United States of America, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War
4 Veterans of the United States, Marine Corps League, Military
5 Order of the Purple Heart, State Association of County Directors
6 of Veterans' Affairs, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
7 States, Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc. In addition,
8 the Governor shall appoint five (5) members-at-large to the
9 commission, each of whom shall be a veteran and a member in good
10 and regular standing of a Pennsylvania branch, post, lodge or
11 club of a recognized national veterans' organization active in
12 this Commonwealth and at least one (1) of whom shall be a female
13 veteran. The members-at-large shall serve for terms of four (4)
14 years and until their successors shall have been appointed:
15 Provided, That the initial five (5) members-at-large appointed
16 by the Governor shall be as follows: two (2) members for four
17 (4) years, one (1) member for three (3) years, one (1) member
18 for two (2) years and one (1) member for one (1) year, as
19 designated by the Governor.
20 (2) The commission shall elect a chairman and a vice-
21 chairman annually at the first meeting of the commission after
22 the first day of October. The Director of the Bureau for
23 Veterans' Affairs shall serve as secretary to the commission.
24 (3) The Governor, upon recommendation of the Adjutant
25 General, shall declare a vacancy to exist whenever any member-
26 at-large shall fail to attend three (3) consecutive meetings
27 without good cause and shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired
28 term.
29 (4) The commission shall meet upon call of the chairman or
30 the Adjutant General. Nine (9) members of the commission shall
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1 constitute a quorum.
2 (5) Members of the commission shall receive no compensation
3 for their services but shall receive reimbursement for their
4 necessary and proper expenses for their attendance at meetings.
5 (6) The State Veterans' 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 * * *
11 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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