(1)  There is created the Veterans and Military Affairs Commission.

Terms Used In Utah Code 36-28-102

  • Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Veteran: means an individual who:Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(2)  The commission membership is composed of 19 permanent members, but may not exceed 24 members, and is as follows:

(a)  five legislative members to be appointed as follows:

(i)  three members from the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, no more than two of whom may be from the same political party; and

(ii)  two members from the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than one of whom may be from the same political party;

(b)  the executive director of the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs or the director’s designee;

(c)  the chair of the Utah Veterans Advisory Council;

(d)  the executive director of the Department of Workforce Services or the director’s designee;

(e)  the executive director of the Department of Health or the director’s designee;

(f)  the executive director of the Department of Human Services or the director’s designee;

(g)  the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard or the adjutant general’s designee;

(h)  the Guard and Reserve Transition Assistance Advisor;

(i)  a member of the Utah Board of Higher Education or that member’s designee;

(j)  three representatives of veteran service organizations recommended by the Veterans Advisory Council and confirmed by the commission;

(k)  one member of the Executive Committee of the Utah Defense Alliance;

(l)  one military affairs representative from a chamber of commerce member, appointed by the Utah State Chamber of Commerce; and

(m)  a representative from the Veterans Health Administration.

(3)  The commission may appoint by majority vote of the entire commission up to five pro tempore members, representing:

(a)  state or local government agencies;

(b)  interest groups concerned with veterans issues; or

(c)  the general public.

(4) 

(a)  The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed under Subsection (2)(a) as a cochair of the commission.

(b)  The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House of Representatives appointed under Subsection (2)(a) as a cochair of the commission.

(5)  A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the commission.

(6)  The term for each pro tempore member appointed in accordance with Subsection (3) shall be two years from July 1 of the year of appointment. A pro tempore member may not serve more than three terms.

(7)  If a member leaves office or is unable to serve, the vacancy shall be filled as it was originally appointed. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under Subsection (6) serves the remaining unexpired term of the member being replaced. If the remaining unexpired term is less than six months, the newly appointed member shall be reappointed on July 1. The time served until July 1 is not counted in the restriction set forth in Subsection (6).

(8)  A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member’s service but may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:

(a)  Section 63A-3-106;

(b)  Section 63A-3-107; and

(c)  rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.

(9)  Salaries and expenses of the members of the commission who are legislators shall be paid in accordance with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Chapter 3, Legislator Compensation.

Amended by Chapter 78, 2021 General Session