Z-1369

AN ACT Relating to the advisory committee of the department of veterans affairs; and amending RCW 43.60A.080.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 43.60A.080 and 1987 c 59 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is hereby created a ((~~state~~)) veterans affairs advisory committee which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and the director of the department of veterans affairs. The committee shall be composed of ((~~fifteen~~)) seventeen members to be appointed by the governor, and shall consist of ((two veterans at large, one of whom shall be a Vietnam era veteran; one representative of the Washington soldiers' home and colony at Orting; one representative of the Washington veterans' home at Retsil; and one representative of each of the following congressionally chartered veterans organizations: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Marine Corps League, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Incorporated, American Ex-prisoners of War, Veterans of World War I, Gold Star Mothers, and the Vietnam Veterans of America, Incorporated. The eleven members representing each of the foregoing organizations shall each be chosen from three names submitted to the governor by each of the named organizations. The first members of the committee shall hold office as follows: Three members to serve two years; three members to serve three years; and three members to serve four years. The first members appointed to represent the soldiers' home and colony at Orting and the veterans' home at Retsil shall hold office for four years. Upon expiration of said original terms, subsequent appointments shall be for four years except in the case of a vacancy, in which event appointment shall be only for the remainder of the unexpired term for which the vacancy occurs. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms.

~~(2)~~)) the following:

(a) One representative of the Washington soldiers' home and colony at Orting and one representative of the Washington veterans' home at Retsil. The homes' residents council may nominate up to three individuals to be submitted by the director to the governor. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider these recommendations.

(b) One representative each from the three congressionally chartered veterans organizations with the largest number of active members in the state of Washington as determined by the director. The organizations' state commanders may each submit a list of three names to be submitted to the governor by the director. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider these recommendations.

(c) Ten members shall be chosen to represent those congressionally chartered veterans organizations having at least one active chapter within the state of Washington. Up to three nominations may be submitted by each organization to the governor by the director. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider these recommendations.

(d) Two members shall be veterans at large. Any individual or organization may nominate a veteran for an at-large position. Organizational affiliation shall not be a prerequisite for nomination or appointment. Nominations for the at-large positions shall be submitted by the director to the governor.

(e) No organization shall have more than one official representative on the committee at any one time.

(f) In making appointments to the committee, care shall be taken to ensure that members represent the geographical portions of the state and minority viewpoints, and that the issues and views of concern to women veterans are represented.

(2) All members shall have terms of four years. In the case of a vacancy, appointment shall be only for the remainder of the unexpired term for which the vacancy occurs. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms, with vacancy appointments to an unexpired term not considered as a term. Members appointed before the effective date of this act shall continue to serve until the expiration of their current terms; and then, subject to the conditions contained in this section, are eligible for reappointment.

(3) The committee shall adopt an order of business for conducting its meetings.

(4) The ((~~state advisory~~)) committee shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and the director on all matters pertaining to the department of veterans affairs;

(b) To acquaint themselves fully with the operations of the department and recommend such changes to the governor and the director as they deem advisable.

((~~(3)~~)) (5) Members of the ((~~state advisory~~)) committee shall receive no compensation for the performance of their duties but shall receive a per diem allowance and mileage expense according to the provisions of chapter 43.03 RCW.