Senate Bill 2648

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 35-1-3, 35-1-13 AND -15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD SHALL BE NOMINATED BY THE BOARD TO THE GOVERNOR WHO SHALL APPOINT THE DIRECTOR TO A FOUR-YEAR TERM SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY THE SENATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 35-1-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

35-1-3. The State Veterans Affairs Board shall * * * nominate to the Governor an executive director * * * ,( who shall be appointed by the Governor to a term of four (4) years subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. The executive director shall also serve as Executive Secretary of the State Veterans Affairs Board * * * ),. The State Veterans Affairs Board shall appoint a deputy director, individuals to manage each of the agency's major functional areas and individuals to manage each of the state veterans homes. The executive director and deputy director shall be a currently serving member or honorably discharged or honorably released veteran of any active or reserve component branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. The board may establish additional minimum qualifications for agency positions.

SECTION 2. Section 35-1-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

35-1-13. The executive director * * * shall have a seal which shall be in the form of a circle with the image of an eagle in the center and around the margin the words: "State Veterans Affairs Board State of Mississippi," and under the image of the eagle the word: "Official."

The executive director, deputy director, division directors and state veterans service officers shall affix the seal prescribed by this section to every document where the same is required by law, and to every certificate and other official paper executed by them where necessary or proper. All documents authenticated with the seal and signed by the executive director, deputy director, a division director or a state veteran service officer shall be recognized as properly attested to in the same manner as if authenticated by notaries public, summary court officials and others authorized by law to take acknowledgments. All copies of papers, copied or certified to by the executive director, deputy director, a division director or a state veterans service officer and authenticated by the seal, shall be accepted in all matters equally in like manner as the original.

SECTION 3. Section 35-1-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

35-1-15. The executive director * * * , the deputy director, division director and state veterans service officers shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations and to take acknowledgments anywhere within the State of Mississippi under the board's seal of office and to perform all other duties required of notaries public.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.