South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008

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Bill 3452

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 28, 2007

H. 3452

Introduced by Reps. Breeland, Bales, Bannister, Dantzler, Govan, Hosey, Jefferson, Knight, Mack, Miller, J.M. Neal, Rice, F.N. Smith and Williams

S. Printed 2/28/07--H.

Read the first time February 7, 2007.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL,

MILITARY, PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3452) to amend Section 25-11-40, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to county veterans affairs officers, so as to extend their terms, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

LEON HOWARD for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:

$0 (No additional expenditures or savings are expected)

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON FEDERAL & OTHER FUND EXPENDITURES:

$0 (No additional expenditures or savings are expected)

EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:

A review of this bill indicates there will be no impact on the General Fund of the State or on federal and/or other funds.

Approved By:

Don Addy

Office of State Budget

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-40, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICERS, SO AS TO EXTEND THEIR TERMS FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 25-11-40 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 228 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section 25-11-40.    (A)    For the purpose of this section, 'veteran' means a person who served on active duty for a period of more than one hundred eighty days and was discharged or released from such active duty with an honorable discharge or, if one hundred eighty days or less, was discharged or released from service active duty service because of service-connected disability.

(B)    Subject to the recommendation of a majority of the Senators representing the county and a majority of the House members representing the county, the Director of the Division of Veterans Affairs shall appoint a county veterans affairs officer for each county in the State, whose term of office shall begin July first of each odd-numbered year and shall continue for a term of two four years and until a successor shall be appointed. A county veterans affairs officer must be a qualified veteran who served on active duty for a period of more than one hundred eighty days and was discharged or released from such active duty with an honorable discharge or, if one hundred eighty days or less, was discharged or released from such active duty because of a service-connected disability; otherwise, a county veterans affairs officer may be a qualified nonveteran, if any veteran being considered for the post is not as qualified as a nonveteran being considered for the post. Qualifications shall be determined by the county legislative delegation upon a majority vote of the Senators representing the county and a majority of the House members representing the county. A county veterans affairs officer is subject to removal for cause at any time by a majority of the Senators representing the county and a majority of the House members representing the county.

(C)    All county veterans affairs officers successfully must successfully complete a comprehensive course of training and be issued accreditation within one year following initial appointment, either through the Division of Veterans Affairs or through an accredited national veterans service organization. A training council from the South Carolina Association of County Veterans Affairs Officers, in conjunction with the Division of Veterans Affairs or through an accredited national veterans service organization, shall develop the training criteria. Training and accreditation must be provided by the Division of Veterans Affairs or through an accredited national veterans service organization. A county veterans affairs officer who does not complete the required training and receives accreditation within the first year following appointment is ineligible for reappointment by the county legislative delegation. Additionally, in order to maintain accreditation, refresher training is required yearly.

(D)(1)    In Berkeley County, appointments made pursuant to this section are governed by the provisions of Act 159 of 1995.

(2)    In Dorchester County, appointments made pursuant to this section are governed by the provisions of Act 512 of 1996.

(3)    In Georgetown County, appointments made pursuant to this section are governed by the provisions of Act 515 of 1996."

SECTION    2.    County veterans affairs officers appointed prior to the amendment to Section 25-11-40 of the 1976 Code, as contained in Section 1 of this act, shall continue to serve the two-year term for which they were appointed and thereafter may be appointed for four-year terms as provided in Section 25-11-40.

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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