CHAPTER 119

SB 508 – FINAL VERSION

2010 SESSION

10-2946

05/03

SENATE BILL 508

AN ACT establishing the state office of veterans services.

SPONSORS: Sen. Barnes, Jr., Dist 17; Sen. Lasky, Dist 13; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Hassan, Dist 23; Rep. Pepino, Hills 11; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock 3; Rep. K. Roberts, Ches 3

COMMITTEE: Election Law and Veterans’ Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes the state office of veterans services, which assumes the primary duties and responsibilities of the state veterans council. The state veterans council retains oversight authority for the office of veterans services.

This bill is a request of the state veterans council.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

10-2946

05/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten

AN ACT establishing the state office of veterans services.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

119:1 State Veterans Council; Renamed State Office of Veterans Services. The title of chapter RSA 115 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

STATE OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES

119:2 State Veterans Council; Reference Change. Amend RSA 115:1, II to read as follows:

II. The members of the council shall meet not less than semi-annually to review activities of the state [veterans council] office of veterans services and provide guidance to the director of the state [veterans council] office of veterans services on the adequacy and delivery of [council] office programs. The council may designate one of its members to serve as liaison to the state veterans advisory committee.

119:3 Compensation; Reference Change. Amend RSA 115:3 to read as follows:

115:3 Compensation. No member of the council shall receive compensation for services rendered but his or her necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or her official duties shall be paid from the appropriation for [said council] the office of veterans services.

119:4 Director of the State Office of Veterans Services. Amend RSA 115:4 to read as follows:

115:4 Director of [Veterans Council] State Office of Veterans Services.

I. The council shall, with the approval of the governor and council, appoint a director of the state [veterans council] office of veterans services, who shall be an honorably separated veteran of a war in which the United States was engaged. The director shall serve during the pleasure of the council and shall perform the duties listed in paragraph II.

II. The director of the [council] office shall:

(a) Supervise the activities of a statewide service delivery structure which assists veterans and family members in identifying eligibility for veterans’ benefits, filing claims, coordinating benefits with other state and federal agencies, and reviewing claims decisions for appeals or waivers of unfavorable decisions.

(b) Identify and develop legislative proposals to improve delivery of services, review and monitor legislation introduced by others, testify at hearings, and prepare legislative fiscal note work sheets. The director shall coordinate, implement, and administer programs mandated by the legislature.

(c) Prepare the agency budget and administer and monitor expenditures for the [council] office of veterans services.

(d) Develop[, interact] and coordinate agency programs in conjunction with the [federal] United States Department of Veterans Affairs as well as other federal, state, local, and private organizations.

(e) Represent the veterans council at various state and national conventions, conferences, and public functions and provide supervision to the [agency’s] office of veterans services’ public relations program.

(f) Perform such other duties as the veterans council shall determine.

119:5 State Office of Veterans Services Established; Duties. Amend RSA 115:6 to read as follows:

115:6 State Office of Veterans Services Established; Duties.

I. There is established a state office of veterans services under the supervision of the director of state veterans services appointed pursuant to RSA 115:4. The state [veterans council] office of veterans services shall assist veterans who are residents of this state or their dependents to secure all benefits or preferences to which they may be entitled under any state or federal laws or regulations. The [council] office shall employ such assistance as may be necessary, within the limits of the appropriation made therefor, subject to the rules of the state division of personnel.

II.(a) Biennially beginning July 1, 2009, the state [veterans council] office of veterans services shall publish a state veterans handbook. The state veterans handbook shall include the following information:

(1) Points of contact for all federal, state, local, and nonprofit veterans agencies, departments, councils, hospitals, clinics, and other organizations offering services, benefits, and programs to New Hampshire veterans, including addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses.

(2) A description of the services, benefits, and programs offered by each entity listed under subparagraph (a)(1).

(b) The state [veterans council] office of veterans services shall distribute the state veterans handbook through the state, local, and nonprofit entities listed under subparagraph (a)(1).

(c) The state [veterans council] office of veterans services may accept and expend for purposes of publishing and distributing the state veterans handbook, any donations, grants, bequests, and contributions which become available for such purposes.

119:6 Transfer of Power and Duties. The transfer of powers and duties from the state veterans council to the state office of veterans services shall include all of the books, papers, records, equipment, unexpended appropriations or other funds, and other property or obligations of any kind associated with such powers and duties.

119:7 Replace “Veterans Council” with “Office of Veterans Services.” Amend the following RSA provisions by replacing “veterans council” or “veteran’s council” or “veterans’ council” with “office of veterans services”: RSA 21:50, I(b)(21); 72:29, VII; 94:1-a, I(b); 115-A:2, VII; 115:8; 115-A:10; 115-A:14; 115-A:17; 115-A:21; 115-A:23, I; 115-B:5; 465:3; 465:5; 465:11; and 651:4-b, II(a).

119:8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 1, 2010

Effective Date: July 31, 2010