Senate Bill 2390

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 35-1-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE STATE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD TO REFLECT THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS EXISTING AT THE TIME OF THE APPOINTMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

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

35-1-1. (1) (a) There is hereby created a State Veterans Affairs Board, which may also be referred to as the "Mississippi Veterans Affairs," to consist of seven (7) members, to be appointed by the Governor, one (1) from each congressional district as they existed on January 1, 1952, of the State of Mississippi. One (1) shall be appointed for one (1) year, another for two (2) years, another for three (3) years, another for four (4) years, another for five (5) years, another for six (6) years, and another for seven (7) years, thus staggered. At the end of such term for each of said seven (7) members, a successor shall be appointed for a term of seven (7) years, thus providing for seven (7) members, one (1) of whom shall be appointed each year. In the event of death, resignation or removal of a member of the board, such person appointed to fill the vacancy shall be a legal resident of the congressional district in which the vacancy shall occur, and shall serve for the remainder of the term to which such member was appointed. Members of the board shall be veterans of any war or police action in which the Armed Forces of the United States have been, are, or shall be committed for action, who have been honorably discharged or honorably released.

(b) * * * From and after July 1, 2024, terms of all members then serving on the State Veterans Affairs Board shall terminate, and the board shall be reconstituted as follows: The board shall consist of seven (7) members. All members shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. One (1) member shall be appointed from each congressional district as such districts exist at the time of the appointment, and the remaining members shall be appointed from the state at large. Of the initial congressional district appointees to the board, one (1) shall serve for a term of one (1) year, one (1) for a term of two (2) years, one (1) for a term of three (3) years and one (1) for a term of four (4) years. Of the initial at-large appointees, one (1) shall serve for a term of three (3) years, one (1) shall serve for a term of four (4) years and one (1) shall serve for a term of five (5) years.

If the number of congressional districts changes, terms of all members then serving on the State Veterans Affairs Board shall terminate on the next July 1 after the change, and the provisions of this paragraph shall apply to the new appointments. The terms of the initial congressional district appointees shall begin at one (1) year and increase by one (1) year for each additional congressional district appointee. The terms of the initial at-large appointees, if any, shall begin with three (3) years and increase by one (1) year for each additional at-large appointee.

All appointees, after the initial appointees, shall serve for terms of five (5) years each. In the event of death, resignation or removal of a member of the board, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the congressional district in which the vacancy occurs, for the length of the unexpired term only.

Members of the board shall be honorably discharged or released veterans of any war or police action in which the Armed Forces of the United States have been, are or shall be committed for action. No state/department commander of any federally recognized veterans organization, no national officer of any federally recognized veterans organization and no member of the Mississippi Council of Veterans Organizations shall be eligible for appointment to the board until the expiration of a period of three (3) years after the termination of their service in such disqualifying positions.

(2) Members of the board shall annually elect as chairman one (1) of their * * * ~~number~~ members and another member as vice chairman. Members of the board shall hold regular monthly meetings and such other meetings as may be called by the chairman or the vice chairman in his absence.

(3) Beginning July 1, 2019, any reference in this code to the State Veterans Affairs Board shall also mean the Mississippi Veterans Affairs.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.