Senate File 2134 - Reprinted
SENATE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3033)
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to requirements and duties of members, executive
2 directors, and employees of county commissions of veteran
3 affairs.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 SF 2134
6 md/rj/cc/26
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 35A.5, subsection 9, Code Supplement
1 2 2007, is amended to read as follows:
1 3 9. After consultation with the commission, provide
1 4 training to commissioners, executive directors, and
1 5 administrators of county commissions of veteran affairs
1 6 pursuant to section 35B.6. The department may adopt rules in
1 7 accordance with chapter 17A to provide for training of county
1 8 veteran affairs commissioners, executive directors, and
1 9 administrators.
1 10 Sec. 2. Section 35B.6, Code 2007, is amended to read as
1 11 follows:
1 12 35B.6 QUALIFICATION == TRAINING == OFFICES.
1 13 1. a. The members of the commission shall qualify by
1 14 taking the usual oath of office, and give bond in the sum of
1 15 five hundred dollars each, conditioned for the faithful
1 16 discharge of their duties with sureties to be approved by the
1 17 county auditor. The commission shall organize by the
1 18 selection of one of their members as chairperson, and one as
1 19 secretary. The commission, subject to the approval of the
1 20 board of supervisors, shall have power to employ an executive
1 21 director and other necessary administrative or clerical
1 22 assistants when needed, the compensation of such employees to
1 23 be fixed by the board of supervisors, but no member of the
1 24 commission shall be so employed. The commission shall employ
1 25 an executive director or administrator, and other necessary
1 26 administrative or clerical assistants when needed. The
1 27 compensation of the executive director, administrator, or
1 28 other necessary administrative or clerical employees shall be
1 29 set by the commission at a rate comparable to the rate set for
1 30 other similar positions in the county. A commissioner shall
1 31 not be employed as an executive director, administrator, or an
1 32 administrative or clerical assistant. Commissioners shall
1 33 complete a course of initial training provided by the
1 34 department of veterans affairs pursuant to section 35A.5. The
1 35 executive director must possess the same qualifications as
2 1 provided in section 35B.3 for commission members. However,
2 2 this qualification requirement shall not apply to a person
2 3 employed as an executive director prior to July 1, 1989.
2 4 b. The commission may employ an administrator in lieu of
2 5 an executive director. Administrators shall not be required
2 6 to meet all the qualifications provided in section 35B.3 for
2 7 commissioners. An administrator may hold another position
2 8 within the county or other government entity while serving as
2 9 an administrator only if such position does not adversely
2 10 affect the administrator's duties under this chapter.
2 11 c. Upon the employment of an executive director or
2 12 administrator, the executive director or administrator shall
2 13 complete a course of initial training provided by the
2 14 department of veterans affairs pursuant to section 35A.5. If
2 15 an executive director is not appointed, a commissioner or a
2 16 clerical assistant shall complete the course of training. The
2 17 department shall issue the executive director, administrator,
2 18 commissioner, or clerical assistant a certificate of training
2 19 after completion of the initial training course. To maintain
2 20 annual certification, the executive director, administrator,
2 21 commissioner, or clerical assistant shall attend one
2 22 department training course each year. Failure to maintain
2 23 certification may be cause for removal from office. The
2 24 expenses of training shall be paid from the appropriation
2 25 authorized in section 35B.14.
2 26 d. The duties of the executive director, administrator,
2 27 and clerical assistant shall include all of the following:
2 28 (1) Inform members of the armed forces, veterans, and
2 29 their dependents of all federal, state, and local laws enacted
2 30 for their benefit.
2 31 (2) Assist all residents of the state who served in the
2 32 armed forces of the United States and their relatives,
2 33 beneficiaries, and dependents in receiving from the United
2 34 States and this state any and all compensation, pensions,
2 35 hospitalization, insurance, educational, employment pay and
3 1 gratuity, loan guarantees, or any other aid or benefit to
3 2 which they may be entitled under any law.
3 3 e. The department of veterans affairs or county veterans
3 4 affairs offices shall not charge for any service provided to
3 5 any individual.
3 6 2. Two or more boards of supervisors may agree, pursuant
3 7 to chapter 28E, to share the services of an executive director
3 8 or administrator. The agreement shall provide for the
3 9 establishment of a commission of veteran affairs office in
3 10 each of the counties participating in the agreement.
3 11 3. The commission with the approval of the board of
3 12 supervisors shall appoint one of the deputies of the county
3 13 auditor to serve as administrative assistant to the
3 14 commission, to serve without additional compensation, unless
3 15 for good reasons shown, this arrangement is not feasible.
3 16 4. In counties where a The commission has established
3 17 shall establish an office, the office which shall be open a
3 18 minimum of four hours each workday twenty hours each workweek.
3 19 The hours that the office is open shall be posted in a
3 20 prominent position outside the office. In lieu of an office
3 21 being open a minimum of four hours each workday, the names,
3 22 home addresses, telephone numbers, and duties of commission
3 23 members shall be posted.
3 24 SF 2134
3 25 md/rj/cc/26