WEST virginia legislature
2022 regular session
Committee Substitute
for
Senate Bill 698
By Senators Weld, Lindsay, and Hamilton
[Originating in the Committee on Military; reported on February 23, 2022]
A BILL to amend and reenact §9A-1-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the number and selection of members for the Governor’s Veterans Council.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 1. DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS’ Veterans ASSISTANCE.
§9A-1-2. Veterans’
Veterans Council; administration of department.
(a) There is continued the “Veterans'
Council” Veterans Council consisting of nine 11 members who
must be citizens and residents of this state and who have served in and been
honorably discharged or separated under honorable conditions from the Armed
Forces of the United States, and whose service was within a time of war
as defined by the laws of the United States.
(b) Where feasible, two
members of the council shall be veterans of either World War II or the Korean
Conflict, at least two members of the council shall be veterans of the Vietnam
era, at least one member shall be a veteran of the first Gulf War and at least one
member shall be a veteran of the Afghanistan or Iraqi Conflicts Where
feasible, members of the council shall be veterans who are active in the
veteran community and who have been recommended by a West Virginia veterans
service organization, with consideration given to ensure a diverse
representation of service branches in council membership. Additionally, no more
than seven members of the council shall reside in any one congressional
district. The members of the veterans’ veterans council shall
be selected with special reference to their ability and fitness to effectuate
the purposes of this article. If an eligible veteran is not available or cannot
be selected, a veteran who is a citizen and resident of this state, who served
in and was honorably discharged or separated under honorable conditions from
the Armed Forces of the United States, and who served during any time of
war or peace, may be selected.
(c) The secretary and such
officers, assistants, and employees as the secretary considers
advisable, shall administer the West Virginia Department of Veterans' Veterans
Assistance.