HSB 28 (LSB 1446XD (2) 91)

SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BILL)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to county commissions of veteran affairs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 35A.5, subsection 14, paragraphs a and c, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
   a.  Information related to compliance with the training requirements under section 35B.6 during the previous calendar fiscal year.
   c.  The number of hours of veterans’ services provided by each county commission of veteran affairs executive director or administrator during the previous calendar fiscal year.
    Sec. 2.  Section 35B.6, subsection 1, paragraph c, subparagraphs (1) and (2), Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
   (1)  Upon the employment of an executive director or administrator, the executive director or administrator shall complete a course for the purpose of obtaining certification as directed by the commandant of the Iowa department of veterans affairs, training as federally required for the person’s position, and a personal identification verification card necessary to access the veterans benefits management system. If an executive director or administrator fails to obtain certification or a personal identification verification card within one year of being employed, the executive director or administrator shall be removed from office. Upon a request from a county commission of veteran affairs and based on extenuating circumstances, the commandant of the Iowa department of veterans affairs may extend the time frame for an executive director or administrator to obtain a personal identification verification card. 
   (2)  An executive director or administrator shall satisfy the continuing education requirements established by the national association of county veterans service officers commandant of the Iowa department of veterans affairs and the United States department of veterans affairs. Failure of an executive director or administrator to maintain certification shall be cause for removal from office. The expenses of training the executive director or administrator shall be paid from the appropriation authorized in section 35B.14.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, the Iowa department of veterans affairs is required to submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly including the county commissions of veteran affairs’ training compliance and hours of veterans’ services provided during the previous calendar year. This bill requires the information in the report to be from the previous fiscal year.
   The bill also requires an executive director or administrator of a county commission of veteran affairs to meet continuing education requirements established by the commandant of the Iowa department of veterans affairs and removes the requirement that an executive director or administrator meet the continuing education requirements of the national association of county veterans service officers.