Introduced Version
House Bill 2191 History
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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2191
(By Delegates Miley and Caputo)
[Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security then
Finance.]
A BILL to
amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new article, designated §9A-5-1
, §9A-5-2,
§9A-5-3
, §9A-5-4,
§9A-5-5,
§9A-5-6 and
§9A-5-7
, all relating
to establishment of the West Virginia Board of Veteran
Education and Support; and authorizing powers and membership.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new article, designated §9A-5-1, §9A-5-2,
§9A-5-3, §9A-5-4, §9A-5-5, §9A-5-6, and §9A-5-7, all to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 5. West Virginia Board of Veteran Education and Support.
§9A-5-1. Purpose.
_____(a) The Legislature finds that West Virginia veterans
represent a valuable component of the state's higher education population. The pursuit of benefits and entitlements at both the
state and federal levels are foreboding to many veterans seeking
continuing education, while maintaining employment and other
obligations. It is, therefore, in the best interest of the state to
consolidate and network veterans resources and personnel in order
to ensure services to the state's veteran seeking continuing
education.
_____(b) The purpose of this article is to establish the West
Virginia Board of Veteran Education and Support for the purposes of
administering and networking the combined assets of veteran's
affairs personnel through out the state's institutions of higher
education and to foster connectivity and communication throughout
veteran affairs staff at institutions of higher learning throughout
the state.
§9A-5-2. Definitions.
_____"Eligible veteran" for this article means a person who meets
the criteria established in article two, section four of this
chapter and is enrolled and in any of the state's higher education
institutions.
§9A-5-3. Board of Veterans Education and Support.
_____ The Legislature hereby authorizes the West Virginia Board of
Veteran Education and Support for the purpose of strategic planning
and programming, networking and promoting open communication
throughout the various offices of veterans affairs established on the state's various institutions of higher education, dedicated to
the educational benefit of all state veterans.
§9A-5-4. Appointment of board; terms.
_____(a) The board shall be comprised of a single representative of
the various offices of veteran affairs from each of the state's
institutions of higher education that receive tuition assistance or
any other funding from the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs.
_____(b) A staff member of any bona fide Reserve Officer Training
Corps is authorized board membership for his or her respective
higher learning institution; Provided, That the selection of
representation is agreed upon by both the ROTC unit staff and the
office of veteran affairs of the respective school.
_____(c) The initial appointment terms for the appointed members of
the board shall last one year. Board members may be reappointed
without a limit to consecutive terms. Board members serving as
chair person are ineligible for serving consecutive terms as chair.
§9A-5-5. Compensation of board members.
_____Each member of the board shall serve without compensation, but
each member shall be entitled to reimbursement by the state for all
reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the
performance of his or her duties as a board member.
§9A-5-6. Board; quorum; bylaws.
_____(a) The board shall exercise all the powers given to the authority. The board shall meet semiannually, after the completion
of the spring and fall enrollment dates pursuant to a consensus of
a majority of the aforementioned educational institutions.
_____(b) A majority of the members of the board constitutes a
quorum and a quorum must be present for the board to conduct
business. Unless expressly forbidden by state or federal
regulations, action may
be taken by majority vote of the members
present.
_____(c) The board shall adopt bylaws and rules, as may be
necessary for its operation and management, governing the manner
in which the business of the board is conducted and shall schedule
semiannual meeting dates and times in accordance with
aforementioned semester schedules.
§9A-5-7. Board Powers.
_____The board has the following powers:
_____(a) To make and adopt all necessary rules for its organization
and operations not inconsistent with law;
_____(b) To elect its own chairperson from members currently
serving;
_____(1) Upon election and confirmation, the chair person shall be
responsible for supervising drafting and submission of the board's
semiannual reports to the West Virginia Legislature and the West
Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance.
_____(2) The chair person will serve as host and facilitator of the semiannual board meetings.
_____(c) To develop and implement programming for the benefit all
veterans of the various campuses throughout the state;
_____(d) To pursue state and federal grants and other sources of
funding for staff and facilities pursuant to the purpose of veteran
education.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish the West
Virginia Board of Veteran Education and Support.
This article is new, therefore it has been completely
underscored.