S 0479 General Bill, By Holland
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 25-11-80, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS OF THIS STATE TO
 APPOINT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES TO ASSIST EX-SERVICEMEN AND TO REQUIRE THE
 APPROPRIATIONS MADE BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BE EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED TO THE
 ORGANIZATIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR 1999-2000.

   02/10/99  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-1
   02/10/99  Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-1

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 25-11-80, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS OF THIS STATE TO APPOINT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES TO ASSIST EX-SERVICEMEN AND TO REQUIRE THE APPROPRIATIONS MADE BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BE EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED TO THE ORGANIZATIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR 1999-2000.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 25-11-80. (A) For the purpose of representing the veterans of this State, each veteran's organization shall appoint a service representative who is charged with the duty of assisting all veterans in their respective organizations. Service representatives may be full-time or part-time employees. Each veteran's organization may select the organization's service representative in the manner of the organization's choice. To the extent that the General Assembly appropriates funding for the service representatives of each veteran's organization, it shall appropriate funds equally among the veterans' organizations at the beginning of each fiscal year.

(B) The duties of the service representatives shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) assisting the veterans in completing the claims application;

(2) processing applications of claims for veteran's benefits;

(3) requesting medical information and statements pertinent to the claim;

(4) providing information to the veterans regarding eligibility and services available from the State and federal government.

(C) For the purpose of this section, veterans' organizations shall include the American Legion, Department of South Carolina, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Department of South Carolina, the Disabled American Veterans, and Vietnam Veterans, Department of South Carolina."

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