BILL REQ. #:  S-2133.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/25/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to the consolidation of certain councils, boards, committees, and commissions; amending RCW 43.60A.010 and 43.60A.080; creating new sections; and repealing RCW 43.60A.170, 43.131.405, and 43.131.406.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The traumatic brain injury grant advisory board must be dissolved by July 1, 2010. The traumatic brain injury council shall assume all duties and powers of the traumatic brain injury grant advisory board necessary to retain any federal grants.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.60A.010 and 2006 c 343 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
     (1) "Department" means the department of veterans affairs.
     (2) "Director" means the director of the department of veterans affairs.
     (3) "Committee" means the veterans affairs advisory committee.
     (((4) "Board" means the veterans innovations program board.))

Sec. 3   RCW 43.60A.080 and 1995 c 25 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) There is hereby created a 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 seventeen members to be appointed by the governor, and shall consist of the following:
     (a) One representative of the Washington soldiers' home and colony at Orting and one representative of the Washington veterans' home at Retsil. Each home's resident council may nominate up to three individuals whose names are to be forwarded by the director to the governor. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider these recommendations or request additional nominations.
     (b) One representative each from the three congressionally chartered or nationally recognized veterans service organizations as listed in the current "Directory of Veterans Service Organizations" published by the United States department of veterans affairs 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 forwarded to the governor by the director. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider these recommendations or request additional nominations.
     (c) Ten members shall be chosen to represent those congressionally chartered or nationally recognized veterans service organizations listed in the directory under (b) of this subsection and having at least one active chapter within the state of Washington. Up to three nominations may be forwarded from each organization to the governor by the director. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider these recommendations or request additional nominations.
     (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. All nominations for the at-large positions shall be forwarded 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 all 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 June 11, 1992, 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 committee shall have the following powers and duties:
     (a) To serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and the director on 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; and
     (c) To exercise the powers granted under RCW 43.60A.160 through 43.60A.185 related to the competitive grant program.
     (5) Members of the 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.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 43.60A.170 (Competitive grant program -- Veterans innovations program board -- Travel expenses) and 2006 c 343 s 5;
     (2) RCW 43.131.405 (Veterans innovations program -- Termination) and 2006 c 343 s 10; and
     (3) RCW 43.131.406 (Veterans innovations program -- Repeal) and 2006 c 343 s 11.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The HIV early intervention program steering committee must be dissolved by July 1, 2010. The HIV/AIDS education program review panel must assume all duties and powers of the HIV early intervention program steering committee necessary to retain any federal grants.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   The HIV policy collaborative must be dissolved by July 1, 2010. The HIV/AIDS education program review panel must assume all duties and powers of the HIV policy collaborative necessary to retain any federal grants.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   (1) All documents and papers, equipment, or other tangible property in the possession of a consolidated or dissolved entity under this act shall be delivered to the custody of the entity assuming the responsibilities of the consolidated or dissolved entity or if such responsibilities have been eliminated, documents and papers shall be delivered to the state archivist and equipment or other tangible property to the department of general administration.
     (2) All funds held by, or other moneys due to, the consolidated or dissolved entity shall revert to the fund from which they were appropriated, or if that fund is abolished to the general fund.
     (3) All contractual rights and duties of an entity shall be assigned or delegated to the entity assuming the responsibilities of the consolidated or dissolved entity, or if there is none to such entity as the governor shall direct.