71-8-4 - Veterans' Advisory Council -- Membership -- Duties and responsibilities -- Per diem and travel expenses.
71-8-4. Veterans' Advisory Council -- Membership -- Duties and responsibilities --Per diem and travel expenses.
(1) There is created a Veterans' Advisory Council whose purpose is to advise theexecutive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs on issues relating to veterans.
(2) The council shall consist of 11 voting members and one nonvoting member,designated as follows:
(a) five members appointed by the governor to serve four-year terms:
(i) four veterans at large; and
(ii) a representative from the Office of the Governor;
(b) the director of the VA Health Care System or his designee;
(c) the director of the VA Benefits Administration Regional Office in Salt Lake City, orhis designee;
(d) a representative from the Veterans' Memorial Park Board for the duration of hisappointment to the board;
(e) the commanders or their designees of the three largest veterans service organizationsin the state, whose terms shall last as long as they hold the required office; and
(f) the executive director shall be a nonvoting member of the council.
(3) (a) Except as required by Subsection (3)(b), as terms of current council membersexpire, the governor shall appoint each new or reappointed member to a four-year termcommencing on July 1.
(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (3)(a), the governor shall, at the timeof appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of councilmembers are staggered so that approximately half of the members appointed by the governor areappointed every two years.
(4) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the governor shall appointa replacement for the unexpired term within 60 days of receiving notice.
(5) Members appointed by the governor may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
(6) (a) Any veterans' group or veteran may provide the executive director with a list ofrecommendations for members on the council.
(b) The executive director shall provide the governor with the list of recommendationsfor members to be appointed to the council.
(c) The governor shall make final appointments to the council by June 30 of any year inwhich appointments are to be made under this chapter.
(7) The council shall elect a chair from among its members every two years. The chairshall be a veteran.
(8) (a) The council shall meet at least once every quarter.
(b) The executive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs may conveneadditional meetings, as necessary.
(9) The department shall provide staff to the council.
(10) Six voting members are a quorum for the transaction of business.
(11) The council shall:
(a) solicit input concerning veterans issues from veterans' groups throughout the state;
(b) report issues received to the executive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairsand make recommendations concerning them;
(c) keep abreast of federal developments that affect veterans locally and advise the
executive director of them; and
(d) approve, by a majority vote, the use of money generated from veterans' license platesunder Section 41-1a-422 for veterans' programs.
(12) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, butmay receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
(a) Section 63A-3-106;
(b) Section 63A-3-107; and
(c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and63A-3-107.
Amended by Chapter 286, 2010 General Session