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2012 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 2.2-2452 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 2.2-2452. Board of Veterans Services; membership; terms; quorum; compensation; staff.
A. The Board of Veterans Services (the Board) is established
as a policy board, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of
state government. The Board shall have a total membership of 19 members that
shall consist of five legislative members, 11 nonlegislative citizen members,
and three ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: three
members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation
contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate to
be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and 11 nonlegislative citizen
members to be appointed by the Governor. The Commissioner of the Department of
Veterans Services or his designee shall serve ex officio with full voting
privileges; and, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
Veterans Services Foundation, and the Chairman of the Joint Leadership
Council of Veterans Service Organizations, or their designees,
shall serve ex officio without with full voting privileges.
Nonlegislative citizen members of the Board shall be citizens of the
Commonwealth.
In making appointments, the Governor shall endeavor to ensure a balanced geographical representation on the Board while at the same time selecting appointees of such qualifications and experience as will allow them to provide expertise and insight into:
1. Best practices in benefits claims services, medical and health care management, or cemetery operations;
2. Performance measurements and general management principles; and
3. Nonprofit volunteer operations and management.
Each of the three areas of expertise shall be represented on the Board by at least two different appointees per area of expertise in order to allow for the Board to be capable of developing reasonable and effective policy recommendations related to the services provided to veterans of the armed forces of the United States and their eligible spouses, orphans, and dependents by the Department of Veterans Services.
Legislative members and the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. After the initial staggering of terms, nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for a term of four years. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. All members may be reappointed. However, no House member shall serve more than four consecutive two-year terms, no Senate member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms, and no nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.
The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
B. The Board shall select a chairman from its membership and, pursuant to rules adopted by it, may elect one of its members as vice-chairman. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services shall not be eligible to serve as chairman. The Board shall also elect one of its members as secretary. The Board shall meet at least three times a year at such times as it deems appropriate or on call of the chairman. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
C. The Board shall be organized with at least three standing committees that shall be responsible for (i) veterans benefits, (ii) veterans care services, and (iii) veterans cemeteries.
D. The Department of Veterans Services shall provide staff to the Board.