South Carolina General Assembly
119th Session, 2011-2012

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Bill 3170

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


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

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 3, 2011

H. 3170

Introduced by Rep. Gilliard

S. Printed 3/3/11--H.

Read the first time January 11, 2011.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL,

MILITARY, PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

To whom was referred a Joint Resolution (H. 3170) to establish a committee to study veteran homelessness, unemployment, job placement, incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder, access to basic human services, and other issues, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

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

Amend the joint resolution, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/    SECTION    1.    There is established a Committee to Study Certain Issues Affecting Veterans. The committee is comprised of three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and three members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The members of the committee shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman and shall meet as often and at any locale in the State as the committee considers necessary or expedient for the duration of the committee's existence as provided by this joint resolution. A vacancy on the committee must be filled in the manner of original appointment as provided by this section.

SECTION    2.    (A)    The committee shall study the following:

(1)    the approximate number of homeless veterans residing in this State;

(2)    the approximate number of South Carolina veterans who have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);

(3)    the root causes of veteran homelessness and reasons why traditional Veterans Affairs Services are not alleviating the situation, particularly with regard to job placement services;

(4)    the availability of basic human services to South Carolina's most economically disadvantaged veterans.

(B)    When formulating its findings and recommendations, the committee shall consider information and recommendations from the State Office of Veterans Affairs, representatives of the veteran community, as well as organizations and healthcare facilities that provide services for homeless veterans.

SECTION    3.    The committee shall render a written report of its findings and recommendations based upon its study conducted pursuant to SECTION 2. The report must be presented to both houses of the General Assembly and to the Governor not later than January 31, 2012. Upon presenting the written report in accordance with the provisions of this section, the committee is dissolved and this joint resolution expires.

SECTION    4.    The committee shall receive clerical and related assistance from the staff of the Senate and the staff of the House of Representatives, as approved and designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, respectively. The members of the committee may not receive compensation and are not entitled to receive mileage, subsistence, and per diem authorized by law for members of state boards, committees.

SECTION    5.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.    /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

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:

The Senate and the House of Representatives

As the members of this committee would not receive compensation, this bill will have no impact on the General Fund of the State or on federal and/or other funds. The staff of the Senate and the staff of the House shall provide clerical and related assistance as approved by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, respectively.

Approved By:

Harry Bell

Office of State Budget

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO STUDY VETERAN HOMELESSNESS, UNEMPLOYMENT, JOB PLACEMENT, INCIDENCE OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, ACCESS TO BASIC HUMAN SERVICES, AND OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING SOUTH CAROLINA VETERANS AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES, THE FILLING OF VACANCIES, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND STAFFING.

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

SECTION    1.    There is established a Committee to Study Certain Issues Affecting Veterans. The committee is comprised of three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and three members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The members of the committee shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman and shall meet as often and at any locale in the State as the committee considers necessary or expedient for the duration of the committee's existence as provided by this joint resolution. A vacancy on the committee must be filled in the manner of original appointment as provided by this section.

SECTION    2.    (A)    The committee shall study the following:

(1)    the approximate number of homeless veterans residing in this State;

(2)    the approximate number of South Carolina veterans who have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);

(3)    the root causes of veteran homelessness and reasons why traditional Veterans Affairs Services are not alleviating the situation, particularly with regard to job placement services;

(4)    the availability of basic human services to South Carolina's most economically disadvantaged veterans;

(5)    the advisability and feasibility of constructing an additional state veterans' nursing home in South Carolina;

(6)    veterans' access to existing nursing facilities and adult daycare facilities and the availability of these facilities to veterans who may be in need of them;

(7)    the ways in which the State should proceed to generate maximum use of state tax revenue for the benefit of veterans;

(8) the projected veteran population in South Carolina during the next twenty years; and

(9)    possible improvement projects to existing state nursing facilities for veterans.

(B)    When formulating its findings and recommendations, the committee shall consider information and recommendations from the state Office of Veterans Affairs and representatives of the veteran community.

SECTION    3.    The committee shall render a written report of its findings and recommendations based upon its study conducted pursuant to SECTION 2. The report must be presented to both houses of the General Assembly and to the Governor not later than August 1, 2011. Upon presenting the written report in accordance with the provisions of this section, the committee is dissolved and this joint resolution expires.

SECTION    4.    The committee shall receive clerical and related assistance from the staff of the Senate and the staff of the House of Representatives, as approved and designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, respectively. Committee members and committee staff shall not receive compensation for their duties with respect to the work of the committee but must be allowed the usual mileage, per diem, and subsistence as provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions, to be paid from the approved accounts of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, in the exercise of their duties and work on behalf of the committee.

SECTION    5.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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