(a) Commission Membership. There is hereby established a Guam Veterans Commission which shall, at a minimum, be composed of a total of nine members, to include the following representation:

(1) four members, each of whom shall be representative of a veterans or retirees association for each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to consist of:

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(A) U.S. Army Retirees (or Veterans) Association;

(B) U.S. Air Force Retirees (or Veterans) Association;

(C) U.S. Navy Retirees (or Veterans) Association;
and

(D) U.S. Marine Corps Retirees (or Veterans)
Associations;

(2) two members from the officially chartered Guam chapters of multi-service Veteran Service Organizations. Organizations to be represented on the Guam Veterans Commission, pertaining to Subsections (1) and (2), are required to be duly registered as a non-profit organization with the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, in accordance with Title 18 of Guam Code Annotated; and/or is registered as a non-profit organization within the United States and recognized as exempt under IRC 501(c)(19). The organizations shall furnish the Guam Veterans Affairs Office with a copy of an official documentation reflecting such requirement; and

(3) a maximum of three members, whom each shall be a veteran, may be appointed from other veteran organizations on Guam, to include the Coast Guard. Should a Veteran Service Organization have more than one Chapter, each Chapter may recommend a representative to serve as a member of the Commission, of which said appointment may be authorized to serve as provided herein.

(4) Ex-Officio Members. With the recommendation of the Guam Veterans Commission, I Maga’lahen Guåhan may appoint as an ex-officio, non-voting member a veteran of a foreign country who has fought alongside U.S. armed forces members as allies in combat, who is representative of an established veterans organization on Guam, and who has resided on Guam for a minimum of three years immediately preceding the appointment. Said veteran shall serve for a term of three years from the date of appointment.

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(b) Commission Membership Terms and Conduct of
Business.

(1) Veteran Organization Appointments. The Commander, or designee, of Veteran Service Organizations shall present in writing to the Chairman of the Commission the name of the individual who shall represent their organization to serve on the Commission, which shall be subject to the aforementioned provisions above.

(2) Terms of Commission Members. Every member of the Commission shall serve for a term of three years, to commence on the date of appointment.

(A) Should the representative terminate his/her term prior to the conclusion of the three years, the Veteran Service Organization shall appoint a successor to serve for a new three year term, which shall commence upon the date of appointment.

(B) Said appointment shall be in writing and presented to the Chairman of the Guam Veterans Commission, with a copy to be furnished to the Veterans Affairs Officer of the Office of Veterans Affairs.

(3) Quorum Requirements. For purposes of a quorum and for the official conduct of business, a minimum of five voting members on the Commission shall constitute a quorum. For the official conduct of business, a majority of the members present, following the constituting of a quorum, shall be required to conduct official business.

(4) Scheduled Meetings. The Commission shall meet monthly and shall advise the Veterans Affairs Officer regarding matters affecting veterans and related issues. Said meeting times, place and dates shall be decided to allow the greatest level of participation and attendance by Commission members.

(5) Veteran Community Participation. The Commission shall provide veterans and their families with the opportunity to air grievances for the purpose of effecting corrective action or change to existing policies that affect the

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delivery of benefits and services to the Guam veteran population.

(6) Administrative Support. The VAO, through the direction of the VAO Administrator, shall provide administrative support to the Guam Veterans Commission in the conduct of its meetings.

(7) Commission Activities. Upon official written request by the Chairman of the Commission for information or action by the VAO Administrator on issues affecting the Commission or Veterans, the VAO Administrator shall provide a written response to the Commission within four weeks from the date of receipt of such communication. Should the VAO Administrator require additional time to provide a sufficient response to the matter, the VAO shall request in writing a time extension, not to exceed an additional four weeks, and further provide justification for the need for such time extension in said written communication. Such request shall be granted upon receipt by the Chairman of the Commission.

SOURCE: Added by P.L. 28-046:10 (June 10, 2005). Amended by P.L.
29-009:2 (Sept. 7, 2007), P.L. 30-086:2 (Feb. 8, 2010). Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 32-135:1 (Apr. 28, 2014).

2018 NOTE: Subitem designations added in subsection (b)(2) pursuant to authority granted by 1 Guam Code Ann. § 1606.