73-1235. Same; veterans claims assistance advisory board; composition; appointment; terms; annual organization; meeting attendance expenses. (a) There is hereby established with the Kansas commission on veterans affairs an advisory board which shall be known as the veterans claims assistance advisory board. The advisory board shall advise the Kansas commission on veterans affairs in the implementation and administration of the veterans claims assistance program.

(b) The advisory board shall consist of the following members:

(1) The director of the veterans claims assistance program, who shall be a permanent member of the advisory board and shall serve as the chairperson of the advisory board.

(2) Each veterans service organization participating in the grant program shall appoint one member of the advisory board who shall be a veteran. The director shall notify the state level unit of each national veterans service organization which has an office in the federal department of veteran affairs regional office in Wichita, Kansas, and request written confirmation of the intent of the veterans service organization to participate in the veterans claims assistance program and to request an annual service grant. Each such veterans service organization submitting such confirmation that also meets the eligibility requirements in K.S.A. 73-1234, and amendments thereto, shall prepare and submit a list of three nominations of veterans from such veterans service organization. The governor shall appoint one veteran as a member of the advisory board from each list.

(3) Two legislators, one from each house, shall be appointed to the advisory board with the speaker of the house of representatives and president of the senate each appointing a member. One legislator shall be a member of the democratic party and one legislator shall be a member of the republican party.

(c) Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall appoint the initial members of the advisory board. Of the initial appointments to the advisory board by the governor, one shall be for a term of one year, one shall be for a term of two years and one shall be for a term ending three years after the date of the initial appointment. After the initial appointments, terms of office of the members appointed by the governor shall be for three years. The term of office of each member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives or the president of the senate shall end on the first day of the regular session of the legislature which commences in the first odd-numbered year occurring after the year such member was appointed.

(d) Each member of the advisory board, other than the director of the veterans claims assistance program, shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of the advisory board for any reason other than the expiration of a member's term of office, the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives or president of the senate shall appoint a successor of like qualifications to fill the unexpired term in accordance with this section. In the case of any vacancy occurring in the position of an advisory board member who was appointed from a list of nominations submitted by a veterans service organization, the governor shall notify that veterans service organization of the vacant position and request a list of three nominations of veterans from which the governor shall appoint a successor to the advisory board.

(e) Annually, the advisory board shall elect a vice-chairperson and secretary from among its members and shall meet at least four times each year at the call of the chairperson.

(f) The members of the advisory board attending meetings of the advisory board or attending a subcommittee meeting thereof authorized by the advisory board shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be paid subsistence allowances, mileage and other expenses as provided in subsections (b), (c) and (d) of K.S.A. 75-3223, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2006, ch. 153, § 2; L. 2009, ch. 62, § 9; July 1.