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[Utah Code Table of Contents]
[TITLE 71. Table of Contents]
71-8-1 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Council" means the Veterans' Advisory Council.
(2) "Department" means the Utah National Guard.
(3) "Director" means the director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs.
(4) "Division" means the Division of Veterans' Affairs.
(5) "Executive director" means the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard.
(6) "Government entity" means the state and any county, municipality, special district, and any other political subdivision or administrative unit of the state, including state institutions of education.
(7) "Veteran" means:
(a) an individual who has served on active duty in the armed forces for at least 180 consecutive days or was a member of a reserve component, and who has been separated or retired under honorable conditions; or
(b) any individual incurring an actual service-related
injury or disability in the line of duty whether or not that
person completed 180 days of active duty.
2000
71-8-2 Division of Veterans' Affairs created - Appointment of director - Division responsibilities.
(1) There is created within the Utah National Guard the Division of Veterans' Affairs.
(2) The governor shall select a director for the division from a list of qualified veterans provided by the Veterans' Advisory Council. Any veteran or veteran's group may submit names to the council for consideration.
(3) The division shall:
(a) conduct and supervise all veteran activities as provided in this title; and
(b) adopt rules in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a,
Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to carry out the provisions
of this title.
2000
71-8-3 Duties of director - Services to veterans.
The director shall:
(1) be responsible for the administration and the operation or support of the following veteran-related operations:
(a) beginning July 1, 2002, Utah State Veterans' Nursing Home and Programs;
(b) beginning July 1, 2001, Utah State Veterans' Cemetery and Memorial Park;
(c) Veterans' Preference Law as defined in Section 71-10-1 ;
(d) any locally or federally funded programs for homeless veterans within the state; and
(e) any federally funded education services for veterans within the state;
(2) maintain liaison with local, state, and federal veterans' agencies and with Utah veterans' organizations;
(3) provide current information so that veterans, their surviving spouses and family members, and Utah veterans' organizations will be aware of benefits to which they are, or may become, entitled;
(4) reach out and assist veterans and their families in applying for benefits and services;
(5) develop and maintain a system for determining how many veterans are employed by the various government entities within the state and keeping track of them; and
(6) cooperate with other state entities in the receipt
of information to create and maintain a record of veterans
in Utah.
2006
71-8-4 Veterans' Advisory Council - Membership - Duties and responsibilities - Per diem and expenses.
(1) There is created a Veterans' Advisory Council whose purpose is to advise the director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs on issues relating to veterans.
(2) The council shall consist of eleven voting members and one nonvoting member, designated as follows:
(a) five members appointed by the governor to serve four-year terms:
(i) four veterans at large; and
(ii) a representative from the Office of the Governor;
(b) the director of the VA Health Care System or his designee;
(c) the director of the VA Benefits Administration Regional Office in Salt Lake City, or his designee;
(d) a representative from the Veterans' Memorial Park Board for the duration of his appointment to the board;
(e) the commanders or their designees of the three largest veterans service organizations in the state. Their terms shall last as long as they hold the required office; and
(f) the director shall be a nonvoting member of the council.
(3) (a) Except as required by Subsection (3)(b), as terms of current council members expire, the governor shall appoint each new or reappointed member to a four-year term commencing on July 1.
(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (3)(a), the governor shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of council members are staggered so that approximately half of the members appointed by the governor are appointed every two years.
(4) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the governor shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term within 60 days of receiving notice.
(5) Members appointed by the governor may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
(6) (a) Any veterans' group or veteran may provide the director with a list of recommendations for members on the council.
(b) The director shall provide the governor with the list of recommendations for members to be appointed to the council.
(c) The governor shall make final appointments to the council by June 30 of any year in which appointments are to be made under this chapter.
(7) The council shall elect a chair from among its members every two years. The chair shall be a veteran.
(8) (a) The council shall meet at least once every quarter.
(b) The director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs may convene additional meetings, as necessary.
(9) The division shall provide staff to the council.
(10) Six voting members are a quorum for the transaction of business.
(11) The council shall:
(a) solicit input concerning veterans issues from veterans' groups throughout the state;
(b) report issues received to the director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs and make recommendations concerning them;
(c) keep abreast of federal developments that affect veterans locally and advise the director of them; and
(d) approve, by a majority vote, the use of monies generated from veterans' license plates under Section 41-1a-422 for veterans' programs.
(12) (a) Members shall receive no compensation or benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
(b) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses
for their service.
2003
