Under existing law, the State Board of Veterans Affairs consists of the Governor and representatives of specified veteran service organizations, each appointed by the Governor upon nomination by the specified organization. Under existing law, the board appoints the Commissioner to serve as the chief executive officer of the State Department of Veterans Affairs. The board also adopts rules relating to the governance of the department, approves all senior level executives within the department, sets department policy, and approves contracts entered into by the Commissioner. This bill would authorize the Governor to appoint the Commissioner to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. This bill would also revise the membership and powers of the board to authorize the board to serve in an advisory capacity to the Commissioner and the department. Members would be appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, provided that board appointments are coordinated to reflect the entirety of the State’s veteran community.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 31-5-2, 31-5-3, 31-5-5, 31-5-6, 31-5-7, 31-5-8, 31-5-9, 31-5-10, 31-5-13, 31-5A-3, 31-5A-4, 31-5A-5, 31-5A-6, 31-5A-7, 31-5A-8, 31-5A-9, 31-5A-10