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Introduced Version House Bill 2534 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
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H. B. 2534

 

         (By Delegates Iaquinta, Fleischauer,

         Longstreth, Stephens, Walker, Azinger)

         [Introduced January 18, 2011; referred to the

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security then the Judiciary.]

 

 

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9A-1-11b, relating to establishing a program to promote veteran friendly communities; providing that the Division of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Veteran’s Council, establish a program to assist and encourage the development, availability and utilization of veteran friendly services, benefits and assistance available to veterans in communities in this state; annual report to the Legislature.

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 section, designated §9A-1-11b, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1. DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS.

§9A-1-11b. Program to promote veteran friendly communities.

    (a) The division, in consultation with the Veteran’s Council, shall establish and implement a program to assist and encourage the development, availability and utilization of veteran friendly services, benefits and assistance available to veterans in communities in this state provided by state, federal and local government agencies as well as private entities. The program shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

    (1) Development of resources to provide awareness in communities of the unique needs and issues of veterans;

    (2) Identification of funding sources to provide funding for the establishment and development of the program established in this section;

    (3) Identification of funding sources to provide funding to counties, municipalities and private agencies and organizations for services, benefits and resources to veterans in their respective communities;

    (4) Encouragement and assistance to counties, municipalities and other government agencies to enhance their efforts to provide services to veterans and to provide accessibility to services available to veterans from various public and private agencies and entities in their communities including, but not limited to:

    (A) Housing and financial assistance for housing available to veterans, including housing accommodations accessible to veterans with disabilities;

    (B) Healthcare services and assistance available to pay the costs of healthcare for veterans;

    (C) Employment resources and opportunities for veterans;

    (D) Educational and vocational training resources and opportunities for veterans; and

    (E) Use of county, municipal and other government agency Internet websites to provide information to veterans of the availability of veteran-specific services in the community; and

    (5) Establishment and development of a program to encourage competition among counties and municipalities to develop, improve and enhance services and benefits to veterans, including establishment of awards and prizes in recognition of counties and municipalities that excel in providing veteran services.

    (b) The division may solicit the cooperation, assistance and counsel of nonprofit organizations representing municipalities and counties in the state in developing and implementing the program established in this section. 

    (c) The division shall submit a report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and to any appointed interim committee of the Legislature on Veterans Affairs on October 1, annually, on the progress towards implementing and administering the program established in this section.

 

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is establish a program to promote veteran friendly communities; the bill provides that the Division of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Veteran’s Council, shall establish a program to assist and encourage the development, availability and utilization of veteran friendly services, benefits and assistance available to veterans in communities in this state.



    This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.


    This bill was recommended for introduction and passage during the 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature by the Select Committee on Veterans’ Affairs - Interim.

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