Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Committee Report

February 12, 2025

 

H. 3510

 

Introduced by Reps. Gilliam, Davis, M. M. Smith, Vaughan, Chapman, Kirby, Landing and Bustos

 

S. Printed 2/12/25--H.

Read the first time January 14, 2025

 

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The committee on House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3510) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 25-11-40, relating to county veterans' affairs officers, so as to provide that the secretary of the, etc., respectfully

Report:

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

 

    Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 25-11-40(B) and inserting:

    (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 secretary shall appoint a one 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 years and until a successor shall be appointed. The General Assembly shall appropriate funding in the annual general appropriations act to provide for two full-time employees in each county veterans' affairs office in each county. Upon securing funding in the annual general appropriations act, the General Assembly shall provide for two full-time employees in each county veterans' affairs office in each county. 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 an at-will employee of the department, subject to removal for cause at any time by the secretary, a majority of the Senators representing the county, and a majority of the House members representing the county.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

 

S.H. DAVIS for Committee.

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill requires the General Assembly to appropriate the necessary funds for two full-time employees in each county veterans' affairs office. Currently, Proviso 113.1 of the FY 2024-25 Appropriations Act specifies that each county receives an effective annual amount equal to one hundred percent of the amount allocated to it for the prior fiscal year plus an amount equivalent to base pay increases for state employees, less any adjustments made for budget reductions. Based on the most recent data available, DVA indicates that the total General Fund appropriation pursuant to this proviso in FY 2023-24 was $303,576. Dividing this total by 2 employees for each of the 46 counties, or a total of 92 employees, this results in an average of $3,300 per employee. Depending upon the amount of salary and fringe the General Assembly allocates per employee, this bill will result in an undetermined increase of General Fund revenue appropriated to the county veterans' affairs offices beginning in FY 2025-26.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 25-11-40, RELATING TO COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS SHALL APPOINT ONE COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR EACH COUNTY IN THE STATE AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL APPROPRIATE THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR TWO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES IN EACH COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICE.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 25-11-40(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (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 secretary shall appoint a one 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 years and until a successor shall be appointed. The General Assembly shall appropriate funding in the annual general appropriations act to provide for two full-time employees in each county veterans' affairs office in each county. 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 an at-will employee of the department, subject to removal for cause at any time by the secretary, a majority of the Senators representing the county, and a majority of the House members representing the county.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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