H*3705(Rat #0227, Act #0228 of 2000)  General Bill, By Breeland, Bailey, 
G. Brown, J. Brown, T. Brown, Chellis, Clyburn, Dantzler, Gourdine, Govan, 
Harrison, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Inabinett, Jennings, Law, Lloyd, 
McGee, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, Neilson, F. Smith, R. Smith, Whipper and 
Young-Brickell

Similar(S 490)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-40, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A
 DEFINITION OF "VETERAN", REQUIRE THE APPOINTMENT OF A VETERAN TO THE POST OF
 COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICER OR A NONVETERAN IF A VETERAN BEING CONSIDERED
 FOR THIS POSITION IS FOUND TO BE NOT AS QUALIFIED AS A NONVETERAN BEING
 CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION, TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION
 SHALL DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICER, AND
 TO PROVIDE FOR A TRAINING COURSE, ACCREDITATION, AND REFRESHER
 TRAINING.-AMENDED TITLE

   03/10/99  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-10
   03/10/99  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-10
   04/21/99  House  Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-91
   04/27/99  House  Amended HJ-32
   04/27/99  House  Read second time HJ-33
   04/28/99  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-13
   04/29/99  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-11
   04/29/99  Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-11
   05/19/99  Senate Recalled from Committee on General SJ-5
   05/26/99  Senate Amended SJ-38
   05/26/99  Senate Read second time SJ-38
   05/26/99  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-38
   06/03/99  Senate Amended SJ-93
   06/03/99  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-93
   06/03/99  House  Non-concurrence in Senate amendment HJ-71
   06/22/99  Senate Senate insists upon amendment and conference
                     committee appointed Sens. Holland, Martin,
                     Russell SJ-55
   06/22/99  House  Conference committee appointed Reps. Breeland,
                     Lourie and Bales HJ-18
   01/13/00  Senate Free conference powers granted
   01/13/00  Senate Free conference committee appointed Sens.
                     Holland, Martin, Russell
   01/13/00  Senate Free conference report received and adopted
   01/18/00  House  Free conference powers granted HJ-24
   01/18/00  House  Free conference committee appointed Reps.
                     Breeland, Lourie and Bales HJ-26
   01/18/00  House  Free conference report received and adopted HJ-26
   01/18/00  House  Ordered enrolled for ratification HJ-28
   02/23/00         Ratified R 227
   03/01/00         Became law without Governor's signature
   03/01/00         Effective date 03/01/00
   03/13/00         Copies available
   05/02/00         Act No. 228

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-40, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION OF "VETERAN", REQUIRE THE APPOINTMENT OF A VETERAN TO THE POST OF COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICER OR A NONVETERAN IF A VETERAN BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION IS FOUND TO BE NOT AS QUALIFIED AS A NONVETERAN BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION, TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION SHALL DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICER, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A TRAINING COURSE, ACCREDITATION, AND REFRESHER TRAINING.

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

County veterans affairs officers

SECTION 1. Section 25-11-40 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Section 486 of Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 25-11-40. (A) For the purpose of this section, 'veteran' means a person who served on active duty for a period of more than one hundred eighty days and was discharged or released from such active duty with an honorable discharge or, if one hundred eighty days or less, was discharged or released from service active duty because of service-connected disability.

(B) Subject to the recommendation of a majority of the Senators representing the county and a majority of the House members representing the county, the Director of the Division of Veterans Affairs shall appoint a county veterans affairs officer for each county in the State, whose term of office shall begin July first of each odd-numbered year and shall continue for a term of two years and until a successor shall be appointed. A county veterans affairs officer must be a qualified veteran who served on active duty for a period of more than one hundred eighty days and was discharged or released from such active duty with an honorable discharge or, if one hundred eighty days or less, was discharged or released from such active duty because of a service-connected disability; otherwise, a county veterans affairs officer may be a qualified nonveteran, if any veteran being considered for the post is not as qualified as a nonveteran being considered for the post. Qualifications shall be determined by the county legislative delegation upon a majority vote of the Senators representing the county and a majority of the House members representing the county. A county veterans affairs officer is subject to removal for cause at any time by a majority of the Senators representing the county and a majority of the House members representing the county.

(C) All county veterans affairs officers must successfully complete a comprehensive course of training and be issued accreditation within one year following initial appointment, either through the Division of Veterans Affairs or through an accredited national veterans service organization. A training council from the South Carolina Association of County Veterans Affairs Officers, in conjunction with the Division of Veterans Affairs or through an accredited national veterans service organization, shall develop the training criteria. Training and accreditation must be provided by the Division of Veterans Affairs or through an accredited national veterans service organization. A county veterans affairs officer who does not complete the required training and receives accreditation within the first year following appointment is ineligible for reappointment by the county legislative delegation. Additionally, in order to maintain accreditation, refresher training is required yearly.

(D)(1) In Berkeley County, appointments made pursuant to this section are governed by the provisions of Act 159 of 1995.

(2) In Dorchester County, appointments made pursuant to this section are governed by the provisions of Act 512 of 1996.

(3) In Georgetown County, appointments made pursuant to this section are governed by the provisions of Act 515 of 1996."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 23rd day of February, 2000.

Became law without the signature of the Governor -- 3/1/00.