Chapter 73

2003 -- S 1110

Enacted 6/27/03

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PERSIAN GULF WAR INFORMATION RELIEF COMMISSION

Introduced By: Senator Walter S. Felag

Date Introduced: May 29, 2003

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections 42-129-1, 42-129-2 and 42-129-3 of the General Laws in Chapter

42-129 entitled "Persian Gulf War Information Relief Commission" are hereby amended to read

as follows:

42-129-1. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Commission" means the Persian Gulf War Information and Relief Commission;

(2) "Director" means the director of the department of human services;

(3) "Department" means the department of human services;

(4) "Veteran" means a person who (i) was a resident of the state at the time of his

induction into the armed forces of the United States or is currently a resident of the state, and (ii)

served during the Persian Gulf War during Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm, as

defined by the U.S. department of veterans affairs or any hostilities in Southwest Asia conducted

after September 11, 2001; and

(5) "Gulf War-related risk substance" means any environmental or chemical substance or

condition which was present in the Persian Gulf region during and following the Persian Gulf

War or which was present during hostilities in Southwest Asia subsequent to September 11, 2001,

including, but not limited to, pesticides, chemical or biological warfare agents, vaccines,

pyridostigmine bromide, infectious diseases, depleted uranium, oil well fires and smoke and

petroleum products.

42-129-2. Commission established. -- (a) There is established a Persian Gulf War

Information and Relief Commission which shall obtain information relating to the health effects

of exposure to any Gulf War-related risk substance for veterans of this state who may have been

exposed to any such substance in the Persian Gulf region or Southwest Asia during their period of

military service in the Persian Gulf War or hostilities in Southwest Asia subsequent to September

11, 2001.

(b) The commission consists of seven (7) members who shall serve for a term of five (5)

years, one of whom is the associate director of the division of veteran's affairs or his or her

designee; one is the president of the united veteran's council or his or her designee; and one is the

chairperson of the advisory council to veteran's affairs or his or her designee. The remaining

members is appointed as follows: The lieutenant governor shall appoint one member who shall be

an honorable discharged veteran, the president of the senate shall appoint one member who shall

be a licensed physician and an epidemiologist, the speaker of the house shall appoint one member

who shall be a licensed physician and a toxicologist, and the minority leaders of the senate and

the house of representatives shall together appoint one member who shall be an honorably

discharged veteran who served in the Persian Gulf during the Persian Gulf War or in Southwest

Asia during any hostilities occurring subsequent to September 11, 2001.

shall be made in the same manner as the original appointment. Vacancies in the membership of

the commission and its officers shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the

original appointment or election. The commission shall meet at least four (4) times a year at the

call of the chairperson. The initial meeting of the commission shall be called by the director of the

department of human services not later than September 1, 1998. The members of the commission

shall receive no compensation for their services.

42-129-3. Duties. -- (a) The Persian Gulf War Information and Relief Commission shall

advise the department of human services on (1) medical, administrative and social assistance

needed for veterans who were or may have been exposed to any Gulf War-related risk substance,

and (2) information that should be provided to veterans concerning epidemiological or other

studies relating to exposure to any Gulf War-related risk substance, and any illness suffered by

veterans of military service in the Persian Gulf War or any hostilities occurring in Southwest Asia

subsequent to September 11, 2001 as a result of such veterans' exposure to any Gulf War-related

risk substance, which are being conducted by the federal government.

(b) The commission shall not disclose information received pursuant to this chapter so as

to divulge the identities of the persons to whom it relates except as is necessary to carry out the

purposes of this chapter.

assembly on or before April 1, 1999, on its findings, recommendations and conclusions. The

commission shall submit annual reports thereafter on or before February fifteenth of each year.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on September 1, 2003.

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LC03362

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