HOUSE BILL No. 5543


     February 5, 1998, Introduced by Reps. Willard, Scott, Wallace, Bogardus, Freeman, Hale, Anthony, Gire and Raczkowski and referred to the Committee on Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs.


        A bill to amend 1953 PA 192, entitled

   "An act to create a county department of veterans' affairs in
   certain counties, and to prescribe its powers and duties; and to
   transfer the powers and duties of the soldiers' relief commission
   in such counties,"

   by amending section 1 (MCL 35.621), as amended by 1996 PA 108.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 1         Sec. 1.  The county board of commissioners may create a

 2    county department of veterans' affairs.  The department shall be

 3    under the administration of a committee of 3 to 5 veterans,

 4    appointed by the county board of commissioners, who shall be res-

 5    idents of the county and who have served honorably on active duty

 6    in the armed forces as volunteers or regulars or women marines,

 7     or  AND who served actively in a war in which the United States

 8    has been, is, or may hereafter be  a participant as defined 

 9    ENGAGED AS DESCRIBED in title 38 of the United States  code 



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 1    CODE, 38 U.S.C. 101 to 8528, including the conflict in Vietnam,

 2    to be appointed upon the recommendation of the posts of each

 3    chartered veterans' organization within the county.  If an open-

 4    ing on a committee of veterans occurs, the county board of com-

 5    missioners shall provide notice of that opening to 1 or more

 6    newspapers within the county and to veteran service organizations

 7    within the county.  Not more than 1 member shall be representa-

 8    tive of a single war or conflict.  Notwithstanding the provisions

 9    of any law of this state to the contrary, a member of the board

10    of commissioners of a county shall be eligible for appointment.

11    Members appointed by the board of commissioners shall be

12    appointed for a term of 4 years each.  However, the terms for

13    members first appointed shall be staggered so that not more than

14    2 vacancies are scheduled to occur in a single year.  Vacancies

15    shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments for

16    the unexpired terms.

























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