H*3749(Rat #0379, Act #0294 of 2002)  General Bill, By J.E. Smith and Weeks
 A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE DIVISION OF
 VETERANS AFFAIRS, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, TO SPECIALIZE IN THE SPECIFIC NEEDS
 AND DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM ERA, TO REPRESENT THE
 DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA AGENT ORANGE ADVISORY
 COUNCIL AND ON THE HEPATITIS C COALITION ESTABLISHED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA
 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, TO ASSIST THE DIVISION OF
 VETERANS AFFAIRS IN CARRYING OUT ITS DUTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGENT
 ORANGE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, TO REPRESENT THE DIRECTOR IN
 CONNECTION WITH FUNCTIONS RELATING TO VIETNAM VETERANS, AND TO PERFORM OTHER
 DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.

   03/20/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-31
   03/20/01  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-31
   04/25/01  House  Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-2
   04/26/01  House  Read second time HJ-14
   04/26/01  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-16
   04/27/01  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2
   05/01/01  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-13
   05/01/01  Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-13
   05/22/01  Senate Recalled from Committee on General SJ-13
   05/15/02  Senate Amended SJ-32
   05/15/02  Senate Read second time SJ-32
   05/15/02  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-32
   05/16/02  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-36
   05/22/02  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-77
   05/28/02         Ratified R 379
   06/03/02         Signed By Governor
   06/13/02         Effective date 6/3/2002
   06/13/02         Copies available
   06/17/02         Act No. 294

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, TO SPECIALIZE IN THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM ERA, TO REPRESENT THE DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA AGENT ORANGE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND ON THE HEPATITIS C COALITION ESTABLISHED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, TO ASSIST THE DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN CARRYING OUT ITS DUTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGENT ORANGE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, TO REPRESENT THE DIRECTOR IN CONNECTION WITH FUNCTIONS RELATING TO VIETNAM VETERANS, AND TO PERFORM OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Additional Vietnam era claims representative; duties

SECTION 1. The Director of the Division of Veterans Affairs shall appoint an additional claims representative within the Division of Veterans Affairs, who, in addition to being charged with the duty of assisting all ex-servicemen, regardless of the wars in which their service may have been rendered, in filing, presenting, and prosecuting to final determination all claims which they have for money compensation, hospitalization, training, and insurance benefits under the terms of federal legislation, shall also specialize in the specific needs and diseases associated with veterans of the Vietnam era. The person appointed as a claims representative under this section must be versed in federal legislation relating to these matters and the rules, regulations, and practice of the Veterans Administration as created by Congress.

Subject to the direction of the director, and in addition to other duties prescribed in this section, the claims representative appointed pursuant to this section may represent the Division of Veterans Affairs on the South Carolina Agent Orange Advisory Council and on the Hepatitis C Coalition established by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, assist the Division of Veterans Affairs in carrying out its duties in connection with the Agent Orange Information and Assistance program, represent the director in connection with functions relating to Vietnam veterans, and perform other duties as may be assigned by the director.

The position created by this section is a classified position subject to Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 8 of the 1976 Code. In the general appropriations act for fiscal year 2001-2002 and thereafter, the General Assembly shall add the position in the budget for the Division of Veterans Affairs and provide for its funding.

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 28th day of May, 2002.

Approved the 3rd day of June, 2002.