SF 276 (LSB 1446SV (1) 91)

SENATE FILE 276

BY  COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1048)

(COMPANION TO HF 250 BY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS)

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, paragraph c, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   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 by striking the subparagraphs and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
   (1)  (a)  Upon the employment of an executive director or administrator, the executive director or administrator shall comply with all directives of the commandant of the Iowa department of veterans affairs regarding the completion of any training or certification required for the person’s position under applicable state and federal law. The executive director or administrator shall also obtain a personal identification verification card necessary to access the veterans benefits management system. An executive director or administrator shall be removed from office if, after one year of employment, the executive director or administrator has not done all of the following:
   (i)  Obtained certification.
   (ii)  Obtained a personal identification verification card.
   (iii)  Completed training directed by the commandant of the Iowa department of veterans affairs.
   (b)  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)  To complete continuing education federally required for the person’s position, an executive director or administrator shall receive training only from entities approved by the commandant of the Iowa 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 hours of veterans’ services 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.