Revision: Jan. 25, 2017, 1:44 p.m.
HB 636-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0163
09/04
HOUSE BILL 636-FN
AN ACT establishing a department of veterans affairs.
SPONSORS: Rep. R. Ober, Hills. 37; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock. 5; Rep. Ladd, Graf. 4; Rep. Theberge, Coos 3; Sen. Carson, Dist 14
COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
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This bill establishes a department of veterans affairs.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0163
09/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT establishing a department of veterans affairs.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Chapter; Department of Veterans Affairs. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 119 the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 119-A
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
119-A:1 Department Established. There shall be a department of veterans affairs to coordinate and oversee the veterans benefits and services offered by organizations within the state of New Hampshire and to direct veterans to appropriate benefits and services offered by such organizations.
119-A:2 Commissioner. Administrative and executive direction of the department of veterans affairs shall be under the direction of a commissioner of veterans affairs who shall be appointed by the governor and council. The commissioner shall hold office for a term of 4 years from the date of appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified. The commissioner shall be qualified to hold that position by reason of education and experience. The commissioner may succeed himself or herself. The salary of the commissioner shall be as specified under RSA 94:1-a.
119-A:3 Duties. The commissioner of veterans affairs shall coordinate and oversee the veterans benefits and services offered by organizations within the state of New Hampshire and direct veterans to appropriate benefits and services offered by such organizations. In performing the duties of the department, the commissioner shall seek the advice of the state veterans council, the state office of veterans services, and the state veterans advisory committee. Each of these organizations shall cooperate and provide guidance to the commissioner in maintaining current information on veterans benefits and services offered by organizations in New Hampshire.
119-A:4 Rulemaking. The commissioner of veterans services shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to current lists of organizations providing veterans benefits and services in this state.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
17-0163
1/24/17
HB 636-FN- FISCAL NOTE
as introduced
AN ACT establishing a department of veterans affairs.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2018 | FY 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2021 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | |||
The Office of Veterans Services was originally contacted on December 30, 2016, and again on January 19, 2017 for a fiscal note worksheet, which the Office of Veterans Services has not provided as of January 24, 2017.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs to direct veterans to appropriate benefits and services. This bill provides that the new department will be under the direction of an unclassified Commissioner of Veteran's Affairs, who will be appointed by Governor and Council. The bill does not specify the salary of the new Commissioner.
As stated under the Fiscal Impact above, the Office of Veterans Services has not responded to the request for a fiscal note worksheet.
The Department of Administrative Services states although the salary for the newly established Commissioner of Veteran's Affairs is not specified in the bill, they assume the position would be assigned to salary grade GG of the unclassified pay range, with potential salary and benefit costs between $107,000 and $118,000 annually. The Department assumes additional administrative expenses will be incurred as part of the day-to-day operations of the newly established Department of Veteran Affairs, but states the bill is silent in this regard. The Department cannot determine if additional staff would be necessary, or other cost would be incurred as a result of this bill.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Office of Veterans Services and Department of Administrative Services