S 0636 General Bill, By Moore

Similar(H 4143)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF
 VETERANS' AFFAIRS WITH REGARD TO COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICERS, SO AS TO
 REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR TO COORDINATE THE ADMINISTRATION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
 WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND FEDERAL VETERANS'
 AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICES AND TO REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR TO ENSURE THAT ALL CASE
 FILE PAPERWORK SUBMITTED BY A COUNTY TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE BE SENT BACK TO
 THE COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICER HAVING POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR THE VETERAN
 RATHER THAN TO THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS.

   04/22/03  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-22
   04/22/03  Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-22

TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS WITH REGARD TO COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICERS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR TO COORDINATE THE ADMINISTRATION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND FEDERAL VETERANS' AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICES AND TO REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR TO ENSURE THAT ALL CASE FILE PAPERWORK SUBMITTED BY A COUNTY TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE BE SENT BACK TO THE COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICER HAVING POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR THE VETERAN RATHER THAN TO THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 25-11-50 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 25-11-50.    (A)    The Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs shall establish uniform methods and procedure for the performance of service work among the several county officers, maintain contact and close cooperation with such these officers, and provide assistance, advice, and instructions with respect to changes in law and regulations and administrative procedure in relation to the application of such these laws, and he the director may require from time to time reports from such the county veterans' affairs officers, reflecting the character and progress of their official duties. The director shall coordinate the administration of veterans' applications for entitlements or benefits, or similar paperwork relating to veterans in this State, with the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs and Federal Veterans' Affairs Regional Offices Administration so as to comply with the provisions of this chapter.

(B)    The director shall ensure that all applications for entitlements or benefits and case files or similar paperwork relating to a veteran submitted by a county to the regional offices of the Department of Veterans' Affairs are directed to and sent to the county veterans' affairs officer who has a power of attorney for the veteran rather than to the Division of Veterans' Affairs."

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