Pennsylvania Act 1999-33 — MILITARY AND VETERANS CODE (51 PA.C.S.) - AMEND

Act text

Session of 1999

No. 1999-33

HB 314

AN ACT

Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the State Veterans' Commission and for the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Commission.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Sections 1702 and 1906 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

§ 1702. State Veterans' Commission.

(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the department an advisory commission to be known as the State Veterans' Commission.

(b) Composition.--The commission shall be composed of:

(1) The Adjutant General, ex officio, or his designee.

(2) The State commander, commandant or head, or his designee, of each of the following named veterans' organizations:

(i) The American Legion.

(ii) AMVETS.

(iii) Blinded Veterans Association.

(iv) Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America.

(v) Disabled American Veterans.

(vi) Jewish War Veterans of the United States.

(vii) Marine Corps League.

(viii) Military Order of the Purple Heart.

(ix) State Association of County Directors of Veterans' Affairs.

(x) Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

(xi) Veterans of World War I of the United States of America, Inc.

(xii) Italian-American War Veterans of the United States, Inc.

(xiii) The Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.

(xiv) American Ex-Prisoners of War.

(xv) Keystone Paralyzed Veterans Association.

(3) Four members at large appointed by the Governor from a list provided by the Adjutant General, each of whom shall be a veteran and a member in good and regular standing of a Pennsylvania branch, post, lodge or club of a recognized national veterans' organization active in this Commonwealth. At least one member shall be a female veteran, and at least one member shall be a veteran of the Vietnam era. Members at large shall serve a term of four years and until a successor has been appointed.

(4) The State Adjutants of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as nonvoting members.

(c) Officers.--The commission shall annually elect a chairman and vice chairman at the first meeting of the commission after October 1. The Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs shall serve as the executive secretary to the commission.

(d) Compensation and expenses.--Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall receive reimbursement for their necessary and proper expenses for attendance at meetings.

(e) Meetings and quorum.--The commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman or the Adjutant General. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

(f) Declared vacancies.--The Governor, upon recommendation of the Adjutant General, shall declare a vacancy to exist whenever any member at large fails to attend three consecutive meetings without good cause. Any declared vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.

§ 1906. Expiration of chapter.

This chapter shall expire June 30, [1999] 2003 .

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED--The 25th day of June, A. D. 1999.

THOMAS J. RIDGE