Delaware General Assembly





CHAPTER 308

FORMERLY

SENATE BILL NO. 270

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DELAWARE COMMISSION OF VETERAN’S AFFAIRS MEMBER APPOINTMENTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 8720, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underlining as follows:

§ 8720. Delaware Commission of Veterans' Affairs -- Established; composition; powers.

(a) There is hereby established the Delaware Commission of Veterans' Affairs, hereafter referred to as the "Commission."

(b) The Commission shall be composed of 15 17 members Commissioners , all of whom shall be appointed by the Governor for terms of 4 years, and shall be veterans who are residents of the State of Delaware. The 17 Commissioners shall consist of 2 at large Commissioners and 15 Commissioners which represent statewide veteran membership organizations incorporated in the State of Delaware, chartered by Congress or authorized under Title 38, United States Code, to represent veterans. Each membership organization shall submit a letter of recommendation which shall included at least 3 nominees 60 days prior to the expiration of a members term or immediately upon a vacancy who shall be veterans appointed by the Governor for 4-year terms, except that initial appointments to the Commission shall consist of 4 veterans to serve 4-year terms, 4 veterans to serve 3-year terms, and 3 veterans to serve 2-year terms. Thereafter, all terms shall be for 4 years. Commissioners who are appointed to represent a statewide veterans organization shall, During during the course of their a member's term, they must remain members in good standing of the nominating organization. If a vacancy occurs, the new appointment shall be for the balance of the original term. The Governor shall make all appointments to the Commission from lists containing at least 3 names of members recommended by each of the statewide veterans' membership organizations incorporated in the State, chartered by Congress, or authorized under Title 38, United States Code, to represent veterans in Delaware. The Governor shall select 1 member from each list submitted by the statewide veterans' membership organizations. For purposes of this section, a veteran is any person who has served honorably on active duty in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Delaware National Guard or the Coast Guard or served as a Merchant Marine between December 7, 1941 and August 15, 1945 for a minimum period of 2 years and has been honorably discharged or relieved from active duty. The minimum period of 2 years of active duty may be waived if: (1) Earlier release was granted because the individual was wounded or injured in the line of duty and rendered unfit for further service; or (2) the individual was released prior to 2 years of active duty for the convenience of the government.

Approved July 05, 2012