2013 -- S 0479

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LC01821

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS'

AFFAIRS

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Bates, Cote, Raptakis, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 30-17.1 of the General Laws entitled "Veterans' Affairs" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     30-17.1-8. Legislative findings. -- (a) The general assembly hereby finds that there is a

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gap in resources and information necessary to effectively support and address the needs of

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veterans' and our state agencies must work together more effectively to collaborate, coordinate,

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leverage and ultimately enhance existing state, federal and private veterans' services to meet and

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exceed the needs and expectations of Rhode Island's veterans and their families.

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     30-17.1-9. Definitions. -- When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the

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following meanings:

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     (1) "Advisory Committee" means the Veterans' Services Strategic Plan Advisory

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Committee as established in section 30-17.1-10.

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     (2) "Committee" means the veterans' committee established pursuant to the provisions of

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subsection 30-17.1-11(c)(8).

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     (3) "State agencies" means state entities responsible for the implementation of services

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for Rhode Island veterans' and their families including:

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     (i) The division of veterans' affairs;

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     (ii) The department of statewide planning;

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     (iii) The department of human services;

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     (iv) The Rhode Island board of higher education;

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     (v) The department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals;

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     (vi) The department of health;

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     (vii) The division of elderly affairs;

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     (viii) The department of business regulation;

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     (ix) The department of the attorney general;

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     (x) The department of labor and training;

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     (xi) The economic development corporation;

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     (xii) The department of education; and

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     (xiii) The director of the Rhode Island office of housing and community resources/

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housing resources commission.

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     (4) "Veterans' Services Strategic Plan ("VSSP")" means the strategic plan as established

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in section 30-17.1-11.

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     30-17.1-10. Veterans' services strategic plan advisory committee established. -- (a)

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There is hereby created a Veterans' Services Strategic Plan Advisory Committee known as "The

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Rhode Island Veterans' Affairs Strategic Plan Advisory Committee" consisting of thirteen (13)

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members as follows:

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     (1) One of whom of whom shall be the director of the division of veterans' affairs or his

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or her designee, who shall serve as co-chairperson;

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     (2) One of whom shall be the director of statewide planning or his or her designee, who

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shall serve as co-chairperson;

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     (3) One of whom shall be the director of the department of human services, or his or her

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designee;

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     (4) One of whom shall be the chair of the Rhode Island board of higher education, or his

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or her designee;

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     (5) One of whom shall be the director of the behavioral healthcare, developmental

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disabilities and hospitals;

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     (6) One of whom shall be the director of department of health; or his designee;

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     (7) One of whom shall be the director of the division of elderly affairs, or his or her

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designee;

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     (8) One of whom shall be the director of the department of business regulation, or his or

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her designee;

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     (9) One of whom shall be the attorney general, or his or her designee;

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     (10) One of whom shall be the director of the department of labor and training, or his or

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her designee;

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     (11) One of whom shall be the director of the economic development corporation, or his

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or her designee;

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     (12) One of whom shall be the commissioner of the Rhode Island department of

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education, or his or her designee; and

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     (13) One of whom shall be the director of the office of housing and community

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resources/ housing resources commission, or his or her designee.

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     (b) Forthwith upon the passage of this chapter, the members of the committee shall meet

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at the call of the chairperson and organize. Thereafter, the committee shall meet quarterly and at

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the call of the chairperson or three (3) members of the committee.

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     (c) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentation, and otherwise to the committee and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable

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by the committee to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

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     (d) The department of human services, division of veterans' affairs, is hereby directed to

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provide suitable quarters and staff for the committee.

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     (e) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentation, and otherwise to the commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the committee to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

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     (f) The memberships of the committee shall receive no compensation for their services.

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Members of the committee shall serve for a term of three (3) years and may not succeed

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themselves more than once after January 1, 2016.

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     30-17.1-11. Duties of the committee. -- (a) The committee, acting through the division

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of veterans' affairs, shall work in conjunction with the department of planning and development

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to develop, maintain and annually update a five (5) year statewide Veterans' Services Strategic

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Plan ("VSSP"), that includes goals and measurable outcomes to ensure that all departments

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deliver comprehensive services and supports for veterans and their families.

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     (b) The committee shall conduct an analysis of study toward the development of the

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"VSSP" that shall include, but not limited to, the following veteran's issues:

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     (1) Access to benefits;

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     (2) Employment opportunities;

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     (3) Veteran-owned small business growth;

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     (4) Educational attainment;

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     (5) Job skills training;

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     (6) Behavioral Health;

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     (7) Long-term health care options;

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     (8) Criminal Justice issues; and

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     (9) Homelessness.

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     (c) The "VSSP" shall:

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     (1) Be based upon comprehensive data gained through open and transparent engagement

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of veterans' stakeholders;

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     (2) Produce veteran centric policies and procedures informed by forward looking

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planning;

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     (3) Realistically assess resource adequacy and capabilities delivered;

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     (4) Ensure that existing resources are aligned to mission critical objectives;

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     (5) Compliment as well as leverage existing US Veterans' Administration programs and

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best practices;

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     (6) Foster state, federal and private partnerships that seamlessly deliver exceptional

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services to the state's veteran population; and

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     (7) More effectively coordinate the delivery of veterans' services to all current and future

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veterans in Rhode Island.

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     (8) Establish a veterans' committee comprised of no fewer than five (5) veterans,

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representing diverse interests and viewpoints, that shall provide input to the advisory committee

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on all matters pertaining to the preparation or implementation of the Veterans' Services Strategic

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Plan. The committee shall receive administrative support from the departments and the members

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shall not receive compensation for their service. The committee shall meet at least quarterly and

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at the call of the co-chairs or four (4) members of the veterans committee.

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     30-17.1-12. Meeting and reporting requirements of the advisory committee. -- (a)

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The advisory committee shall meet regularly, on a quarterly basis and at the call of the

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chairperson or three (3) committee members.

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     (b) The advisory committee shall provide a copy of the Veterans' Services Strategic Plan

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"VSSP" to the senate president, speaker of the house, senate fiscal advisor and house fiscal

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advisor one year after enactment of this act.

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     (c) The advisory committee shall report annually to the governor and the general

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assembly, no later that April of each year, on the progress made in achieving the goals and

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objectives set forth and any other pertinent information.

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     (d) The advisory committee shall update the "VSSP" every five (5) years and provide a

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copy of the plan to the senate president, speaker of the house, senate and house fiscal advisor.

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     (e) The advisory committee shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 38-2, access to

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public records act, and chapter 42-46, open meetings act.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS'

AFFAIRS

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     This act would create the Veterans' Services Strategic Plan Advisory Committee that

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would be responsible for developing, maintaining and annually updating a five (5) year statewide

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Veterans' Services Strategic Plan ("VSSP"), that includes goals and measurable outcomes to

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ensure that all departments deliver comprehensive services and supports for veterans and their

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families.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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